Railway safety panel recommendations

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) Following are the recommendations of a high-level safety panel headed by former atomic energy commission chairman Anil Kakodkar.

- Set up an independent rail safety authority and put commissioners of railway safety under it.

- Poor infrastructure and resources, lack of empowerment at functional levels and a grim financial condition are affecting the safety of the national transporter

- The panel estimated the railways would need around Rs.1 lakh crore in the next five years to overhaul its safety apparatus

- Set up Railway Research and Development Council (RRDC)

- Adopt advanced signalling system similar to European train control system Level-II on the entire trunk routes of about 19,000 route kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.20,000 crores within 5 years

- Eliminate all such level crossings (manned an unmanned) through closure, merger, limited height subways at an estimated cost of Rs.50,000 crore over the next five years

- All new coaches should only be of LHB design, which is safer for present speeds and train lengths. This should cost around Rs.10,000 crore over five years

- Empower employees at functional levels and simplify and streamline processes and procedures

- Set up an empowered group of officers in the Railway Board to pilot the implementation of its suggestions in a time bound manner with full funding

- New Railway Safety Authority to review of implementation of the recommendations