Posted on Jun 9, 2023
Derek O’Brien on the Odisha train collision: The red flags BJP government ignored
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The Balasore, Orissa, India three train disaster was an accident waiting to happen. India began revamping its railways in 2004 and ever since, every year, there is been a major rail mishap.
Derek O’Brien on the Odisha train collision: The red flags BJP government ignored
Posted from indianexpress.comPosted in these groups: 
IndiaTraffic Management and Collision Investigations
Intelligence
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IndiaTraffic Management and Collision Investigations Intelligence Broadcast Media Government
Posted 11 mo ago
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
..."June 3, 2023: 288 families grieve the loss of their loved ones. 1,000 families traumatised.
Telangana, 2014, 20 dead. Rae Bareli, 2015, 32 dead. Kanpur, 2016, 150 dead. Andhra Pradesh, 2017, 40 people dead. In an answer given to Parliament in July 2022, the Ministry of Railways stated that there were a total of 244 “consequential” train accidents between 2017 and 2022.
Balasore was an accident waiting to happen.
The self-indulgent photo-ops for Vande Bharat train inaugurations have not aged well. Sadly, India’s passenger trains are still neglected and remain mobile mortuaries. On the floor of Parliament, members from Opposition parties have often red-flagged these serious issues and offered constructive suggestions. No one listened, because PR (public relations) was being prioritised over PS (passenger safety).
Let’s begin by sharing a paragraph written in this column that was published last fortnight, days before the tragic accident. “In 2017, another precedent was set aside by the BJP. For the first time, the Railway Budget was subsumed into the Union Budget. This had never happened before. The (separate) Railway Budget on the floor of Parliament has now been consigned to the dustbin” (‘A house of dubious firsts’, IE, May 26). Red flag."...
..."June 3, 2023: 288 families grieve the loss of their loved ones. 1,000 families traumatised.
Telangana, 2014, 20 dead. Rae Bareli, 2015, 32 dead. Kanpur, 2016, 150 dead. Andhra Pradesh, 2017, 40 people dead. In an answer given to Parliament in July 2022, the Ministry of Railways stated that there were a total of 244 “consequential” train accidents between 2017 and 2022.
Balasore was an accident waiting to happen.
The self-indulgent photo-ops for Vande Bharat train inaugurations have not aged well. Sadly, India’s passenger trains are still neglected and remain mobile mortuaries. On the floor of Parliament, members from Opposition parties have often red-flagged these serious issues and offered constructive suggestions. No one listened, because PR (public relations) was being prioritised over PS (passenger safety).
Let’s begin by sharing a paragraph written in this column that was published last fortnight, days before the tragic accident. “In 2017, another precedent was set aside by the BJP. For the first time, the Railway Budget was subsumed into the Union Budget. This had never happened before. The (separate) Railway Budget on the floor of Parliament has now been consigned to the dustbin” (‘A house of dubious firsts’, IE, May 26). Red flag."...
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
Indian Railways has definitely improved in some areas, SGT (Join to see), yet in many areas it falters. India is not really prepared for the bullet train or Superfast rail service, but, politically, the Government has to demonstrate that it has done something useful for the travelers.
Security in railways has been beefed up, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) provide security to the trains, control rooms and railway lines. There are also the Railway Special Protection Force (RSPF) and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
The railway stations have been cleared of unwanted beggars and other uninvited guests, illegal business activities, and unlawful entry. However, traffic and filth around railway stations is still problematic.
Fast trains are a brilliant idea, yet when they are implemented in a foolproof manner to prevent accidents, like the Balasore tragedy.
Security in railways has been beefed up, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) provide security to the trains, control rooms and railway lines. There are also the Railway Special Protection Force (RSPF) and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
The railway stations have been cleared of unwanted beggars and other uninvited guests, illegal business activities, and unlawful entry. However, traffic and filth around railway stations is still problematic.
Fast trains are a brilliant idea, yet when they are implemented in a foolproof manner to prevent accidents, like the Balasore tragedy.
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana - thanks for the additional information about the Indian Railways...
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