RCF: Passenger’s safety at stake due to Shady deals, Compromised quality and Rampant corruption, part-1

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Substandard Rail coach furnishing at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala goes unchecked at the hands of GM/RCF and CVO/RCF, and their cavalcade of some officers thereby playing a dangerous gamble with lives of the People of India.

An order was placed by #RCF, Kapurthala for Design, Supply, and Fitment of complete coach furnishing of #GaribRath AC3-tier coaches on a turnkey basis, PL no. 33599350 was put in favour of M/s #DTL India Holdings Limited-Pune vide PO no. 17201178102010 Dtd. 05.12.2020.

The initial order value was ₹22.17 crore, and the firm had to furnish 49 coaches against the purchase order 17201178102010 Dtd. 05.12.2020. Further, the order #quantity was enhanced from 49 sets to 58 sets by partly operating special quantity option clause (PO clause no. 5)., MA no: 003469 dated 30.12.2020, enhanced PO value: ₹26.24 crore. Further, the Order quantity was increased by 22 nos. i.e. from 49 nos. to 71 nos. The #contract order quantity was enhanced from 58 nos. (49 RCF + 09 ICF) to 80 nos. (71 RCF + 09 ICF) by partly operating special quantity option clause, MA no: 002879 dated 13.09.2021, enhanced PO value: ₹36.20 crore. Further, Order quantity was increased by 10 nos., MA no: 003687 Dtd. 10.12.2021, enhanced PO value: ₹40.72 crore.

DyCVO/RCF’s letter to DyCMM/D/Fur/RCF: Aforesaid both consignments supplied by M/s DTL India Holdings Ltd. Pune, found non-confirming to specifications.

As per the PO placed on the firm, clause 12, #Inspection for the items to be supplied and applied by the #Contractor shall be by M/s #RITES as per approved #QAP. However, the #Mechanical officers lobby under the patronage of #GMRCF in its undue administrative abuse of official powers allowed the firm to install the #inferior quality seat and berth into the coaches, and in the name of a mere formality, #CVO/#RCF did a #Vigilance audit whose report is attached herewith;

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The report clearly states that the inferior quality seat and berth have been installed into the coaches, but no action was initiated by #Vigilance because they were hand-in-cuff with the firm. Sad but true that currently, 19 coaches fitted with the above-mentioned inferior seats are running on tracks of Indian Railways.

The #defect described pertains to the requirements for seat and berth installations in coaches, specifically related to the use of #fire-barrier-cloth, vinyl-coated upholstery cloth, and flexible load-bearing PU (polyurethane) materials. The implications of not meeting these requirements can have significant #Safety consequences which are described as under;

a) Increased Fire Hazards: The absence of fire barrier cloth stitched with vinyl-coated upholstery cloth increases the risk of fire hazards. The purpose of fire barrier cloth is to provide a protective barrier that inhibits the spread of fire and smoke. Without this barrier, the likelihood of fire propagation is heightened, posing a threat to #passengers and the overall safety of the coach.

b) Rapid Smoke Generation: The use of fire barrier cloth and vinyl-coated upholstery cloth helps in limiting the #production and spread of smoke in case of a fire. Inadequate implementation of these materials may result in rapid smoke generation, which can obscure visibility within the coach, hinder evacuation efforts, and potentially lead to #respiratory issues for passengers.

c) Toxic Fume Emission: The requirement to meet specific #FST (#Fire, #Smoke & #Toxicity) properties ensures that the materials used in the seat and berth installations do not release toxic fumes when exposed to fire. If the specified materials, such as the flexible load-bearing PU, are not used or do not meet the required #FST properties, the emitted fumes could be highly toxic, jeopardizing the health and well-being of passengers in case of a fire incident.

d) Compromised Passenger Safety: Ultimately, the most significant implication of this defect is compromised passenger safety. In the event of a fire, the absence of proper fire barrier cloth, vinyl-coated upholstery cloth, and compliant flexible load-bearing PU materials increases the risk of injuries, suffocation, and fatalities for passengers on board. Prompt evacuation and effective fire suppression measures may also be impeded due to the lack of adequate fire safety measures.

To address these implications and prioritize national interest and passenger safety, it was crucial to rectify the defect by ensuring that the seat and berth installations in coaches met the specified requirements. This involved the proper utilization of fire barrier cloth, vinyl-coated upholstery cloth, and compliant flexible load-bearing PU materials, while also meeting the necessary #FST properties outlined in the EN45545 HL3 standard. To be continue..