Following a rise in accidents during the current year, Railway Minister Mukul Roy on Friday directed the brass to personally monitor safety aspects and ordered a health audit of the tracks.
At a two-day meeting of zonal general managers here, Mr. Roy called for a report within three months on the health of track infrastructure, stressing that safety of passengers should be accorded top priority and that he would not brook any compromise on this front.
He also called for a separate safety audit of the rolling stock right from the production unit and workshops. This would be conducted by a multifunctional team of senior officials expected to complete the task within three months.
Expressing concern over the rising number of accidents at unmanned level crossings, Mr. Roy underlined the need for a time-bound action plan to execute all road safety works and directed the general managers to personally monitor the progress.
Mr. Roy asked the Railway Board to take steps on a priority basis for putting in place a coordinated effort with the State governments and executing the sanctioned schemes related to the integrated security system keeping in view the threat perceptions in trains and railway premises.
The Minister also expressed concern over vacant posts and directed that they be filled at the earliest so that Railways could operate to their full potential.
