The measures announced to prevent accidents and ensure safety in the last two Railway Budgets were, Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) on High Density Network, elimination of unmanned level crossings in a phased manner and review the recommendations of High-Level Safety Review Committee headed by Dr. Kakodkar.
Following steps have been taken to avoid collisions due to Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) or over speeding and ensure safety:
Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is a radio communication based system with continuous update of movement authority. This system is aimed at providing capability of preventing train accidents caused due to Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) or non observance of speed restrictions by train drivers. Signal aspect is also displayed on DMI (Driver Machine Interface) screen inside the Locomotive in train system. After successful Proof of Concept trials of TCAS, RDSO has taken up extended field trials of TCAS on a pilot section Lingamapalli-Vikarabad-Wadi-Bidar section of South Central Railway.
Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) is a proven Automatic Train Protection System to avoid train accidents on account of human error of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) or over-speeding. As a pilot project, TPWS has been provided on Chennai-Gummidipundi Suburban Section of Southern Railway, Hazrat Nizamuddin – Agra Section of Northern/North Central Railway and Dum Dum-Kavi Subhash section of Kolkata Metro.
Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossings through various means – It has been decided to progressively eliminate all unmanned level crossings by (i) closing unmanned crossings having NIL/negligible Train Vehicle Units (TVUs), (ii) merger of unmanned level crossing with nearby unmanned/manned gates or Road Under Bridge or Road Over Bridge or Subway by construction of diversion road, (iii) provision of Subways/Road Under Bridges. The Unmanned Level Crossings which cannot be eliminated by the above means will be progressively manned based on the volume of rail road traffic (TVU) and visibility conditions.
A High Level Safety Review Committee (HLSRC) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Anil Kakodkar, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, was constituted on 16.09.2011 to look into all technical and technology related aspects in connection with safe running of train services in the country. The Committee submitted its report on 17.02.2012. The Committee (HLSRC) has made 106 recommendations covering the various aspects of Indian Railways. Out of the 106 recommendations, 68 have been fully accepted, of which 27 have been fully implemented. 19 recommendations have been partially accepted for implementation and 19 were found not suitable for acceptance.