NFR introduces new system in level-crossing gates

Context: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has started providing
‘rubberized surface’ in level-crossing gates to enhance safety. Nine LC gates are
being provided with rubberized surfacing in the Lumding-Furkating section. This
modernization initiative will extend to the remaining eight LC gates in the
section and is scheduled for completion by December this year. The project
involves a total cost of Rs 81 lakh, with Rs 9 lakh allocated per LC gate. The
installation process is quick and efficient, requiring only a two-hour block
for laying panels and a short speed restriction of 30 KM per hour for two to three
hours post-installation.

Key points

·      
Overview: Despite safety advancements, Indian Railways has
experienced fluctuating collision rates, recording six incidents in 2022-23 and
four in 2023-24, highlighting the ongoing need to prevent such incidents.

·      
Reasons
behind Railway Accidents: Derailments
- Many train disasters in India are caused by derailments, with a
government safety report from 2020 finding they were responsible for 70% of
train crashes in the country.

Human Errors - The railway staff, who are responsible for operating, maintaining, and
managing the trains and tracks, are prone to human errors due to fatigue,
negligence, corruption, or disregard for safety rules and procedures.

Signalling Failures - The signalling system, which
controls the movement and direction of trains on the tracks, can fail due to
technical glitches, power outages, or human errors.

Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) - UMLCs are crossings where railway tracks intersect
without barriers or signals, all unmanned ones on broad gauge routes have been
removed, yet accidents still pose risks at manned level crossings (MLCs).

Infrastructure Defects - The railway infrastructure, which includes tracks, bridges, overhead
wires, and rolling stock, is often defective due to poor maintenance, ageing,
vandalism, sabotage, or natural disasters.

Safety and Information Flow Challenge - Since the inception of railways in India, periodic
field inspections by authorities at various levels have been crucial for
ensuring compliance with established procedures and standards.

·      
Status of
Kavach system: Kavach
aims to secure India's extensive railway network of over 68,000 km, but only
1,500 km are currently equipped with the system since its initial rollout. It
aims to cover 6,000 km by 2025, including key routes like Delhi-Mumbai and
Delhi-Howrah. Upgrades are planned to make the system 4G/5G compatible. Installation
is ongoing, with components like optical Fiber cables, towers, and station
equipment being deployed.

·      
Features of
the new system: It ensures
a smoother road surface between the tracks and one meter on both sides,
providing better riding comfort for road users. The safety of level crossings
is significantly enhanced by the elimination of check rails, which removes
risks such as check rail breakage and the need for frequent gap adjustments. Maintenance
requirements are reduced as the absence of sand and paver blocks prevent cake ballast
formation, which extends the service life of critical track components such as Elastic
Rail Clips (ERCs), GR pads, and liners.