The Ask, Part-6: Drop the Facade of Confidentiality of CRS Reports
#IndianRailways has since some time been like a kite dancing in a hurricane. To help those who are expected to do better in guiding and leading IR, we started a series to bring the focus on fundamental issues, simply called, “The Ask”, each article has posed a fundamental question, which if answered can help IR’s bosses and #political-leadership reclaim semblance of control and their credibility.
Despite more than 15 lakh crores spent in last 11 years, on loud claims of zero rail accidents on level crossings came heart breaking #accident on what is technically called a non-interlocked level crossing.
Gateman on these level crossings communicate with #SM of adjacent railway station on phone and the gate is opened. The work depends on judgement of the #gateman as he can at his sweet will or under pressure can open the gate and the station masters do not have a clue about it. These gates are most accident prone – a fact too well known since ages.
Would there be a CRS enquiry? Well even if it would what would it lead to?
Take for example this recent averted accident in same railway in #Madurai Division of #SouthernRailway on 24th June. This was saved providentially as #signal maintainers for some other work were seeing signal aspects and discovered that two trains were on same track. This was set to be repeat of #Kanchanjanga Express accident.
Read: “Accident in waiting: Report blasts Railways for Kanchenjunga collision”
Look at #Balasore dear reader, this was sixth accident in as many months. Not only that Balasore was repeat of accident at #Harchandpur in 2018 and #Sabarmati Express in #WesternRailway in 2005. Well, one can surmise that Balasore was well primed to happen since decades.
But why there has been no learning?
For reasons unknown, Commissioner of Railway Safety (#CRS) reports are considered #confidential document. So they can not be circulated nor can they be quoted or taught. They do not have evidentiary value in a court of law. This status gives perverse incentive to manage these reports. Thus if Prime Minister or Minister for Railways wants to understand why rail accidents are waiting to happen or why are they happening even after so much of investment, the reason is that there is no learning from earlier accidents.
This brings us to an interesting fact.
Contradictions in same Ministry
Commission of Railway Safety works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Though this gives pretense of this organisation being independent of Ministry of Railways, its #kharcha-paani-sewa is all borne by the Indian Railways.
Ministry of Civil Aviation not only has Commission of Railway Safety it also has an Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (#AAIB) under its wings. While CRS reports are classified by making them confidential and not having evidentiary value, AAIB reports are public.
Take for example, recent accident of Air India’s Boing 787 #dreamliner jet at Ahmedabad on 12th June. Its preliminary report can be seen on website of AAIB:
So while air accident reports are made open, rail accident reports are classified. As they are beyond reach of all, no independent analysis is possible. Babus conveniently find smallest and the weakest to put blame on, as no one can challenge them. They continue to grow and prosper getting promoted timely.
The Ask
“The Ask” is simple-like AAIB under same ministry, #CRS must make its findings public. These reports must be debated and misconduct of the officers leading to large number of deaths in rail accidents should be examined by independent #Safety experts and judiciary. Prime Minister and Minister for Railways will be greatly helped by this transparency.
Readers may like to see the earlier articles of “The Ask” series below:
12 March 2025: “The Ask : Part-I”
24 March 2025: “The Ask, Part-II: Bring Transparency, Ethics & Accountability-on house retention policy”
30 March 2025: “The Ask, Part-3: Is Station Development in current form a good idea? Need for real development”
31 March 2025: “The Ask, Part-4: Can the Compromised Lead?”
24 June 2025: “The Ask—Part-V : A pause!”