Sudheer-Sense in Rail-Safety

No system can prevent accidents when it is controlled by corrupt individuals

हमें कई वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों ने कहा कि आप बहुत व्यापक विषयों को छूते हैं – उनका इशारा शायद इस ओर था कि हम सामान्य रेलकर्मियों की परेशानियों पर न लिखें, क्योंकि यह समस्याएँ ऊपरी तौर पर उनकी दृष्टि में बहुत छोटी दिखती हैं – खराब रेल आवास, छत से गिरता प्लास्टर, बारिश में टपकती छत, टूटी-फूटी खिड़कियाँ, टूटे दरवाजे, टूटा फर्नीचर, टूटा नल, नल से आता गंदा पानी, सुपरवाइजरों का आतंक इत्यादि।

जबकि हमारा मानना है कि यह प्लेटफार्म, सभी रेल कर्मचारियों का है, फिर चाहे वह छोटे-बड़े किसी भी पद पर हों। उनकी समस्याएँ उजागर करना, उन्हें उच्च रेल प्रशासन के संज्ञान में लाना, कर्मियों और प्रशासन दोनों को एक-दूसरे के क्रियाकलापों की फीडबैक देना, यात्रियों सहित रेलकर्मियों तथा रेल प्रशासन तीनों को अपनी बात कहने-रखने का एक कॉमन प्लेटफॉर्म उपलब्ध कराना ही इस समाचार पत्र का मूल उद्देश्य-मूलमंत्र रहा है। यही इसकी प्रमाणिकता है, और यही हमें अपने पाठकों से पिछले 26 सालों से बांधकर रखा हुआ है।

यह लेख एक सेवानवृत्त वरिष्ठ अधिकारी की कलम से है, जो हमारे संपादकीय दृष्टिकोण से सहमत हैं। उनका भी मानना है कि कैसे रेल में इतने निवेश के बावजूद बिगड़ती #संरक्षा व्यवस्था रेल प्रशासन को कटघरे में खड़ा करती है। उनका यह भी मानना है कि रेल संरक्षा (#सेफ्टी) के मूल में प्रशासनिक पारदर्शिता है-इन्हें अलग नहीं देखा जा सकता। प्रॉपर #रोटेशन न होना रेल के वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों और मंत्रीजी की निर्णय क्षमता के ऊपर बहुत बड़े प्रश्न चिन्ह लगाता है, कि कैसे रेल का ग्रुप ‘बी’ और ग्रुप ‘सी’ वर्ग इतना मजबूत है कि रेल भवन और मंत्री जी उनके सामने औंधे पड़े हैं!

कवच या अन्य किसी भी नए नाम से दवाई ले आइए, यदि घर को साफ नहीं रखेंगे, तो कोई बचाव नहीं होगा। हाँ, इस तरह के निहित कार्य-कलापों से अपनों को कुछ लाभ अवश्य पहुँच जाता है! बहरहाल, आगे देखते हैं कि हमारे आदरणीय सेवानिवृत्त वरिष्ठ रेल अधिकारी ने क्या लिखा है-

In the past, we raised concerns to the #Minister about the inconsistent arrangements of the #RailwayBoard, #Zones and #Divisions. Thankfully, this resulted in faster action being taken on pending higher level appointments. We also emphasized that the #accident in #Balasore was not an isolated incident. A letter from the Member Infrastructure (#MInfra) before the Balasore accident informed us that it was the sixth reported accident of its kind in recent past. When the Hon’ble #PM visited the Balasore accident site, our readers pointed out that he had attended a similar accident in Vadodara Division in 2005 when he was the #CM of Gujarat, accompanied by #LaluPrasadYadav, who was the #RailMinister.

We also highlighted the ongoing issues in the #Signal department. #Railway officers admit that nobody understands the #signal-gear, as everyone is only interested in #tenders. The #RDSO has also lost its technical expertise. Due to a lack of #Rotation and the claim of higher technology, manipulative #Officers and #Vendors have taken advantage of every accident to promote incomplete solutions.

Today, as #IndianRailways rushes to verify #circuits and #wiring, officers question why these straightforward issues were never addressed before. These officers point out that if the automated #verification issue had been tackled and #communication failures due to poor #cables had been addressed, thousands of #deaths could have been prevented. The failure of #interlocking is at the core of the problem, and the #Signalling department’s inability to ensure it has been covered up. People now talk about #Kavach, another expensive solution that deepens our #reliance on vendors.

Decoupling railways from understanding of technology is costing IR dear

Why is the interlocking system failing? What is causing the interlocking system to fail? Whether it is Kavach or the European Train Control System (#ETCS), no system can prevent accidents when it is controlled by corrupt individuals.

It is important to mention the role of Railway #Unions in this matter. When was the last #Union-elections held? If the central government is accountable and faces elections every 5 years, why not the railway unions? The lack of #Rotation and the #Vigilance department being controlled by #corrupt and #incompetent individuals has created a dangerous situation. It is not only the careers of railway officers at stake, but the whole #IndianRailways itself has turned into a dangerous killing machine that is moving uncontrollably.

Sudheer-Sense

In the selection of #RollingStock, #SudheerSense intentionally caused the railways to pay ₹35 crore for 30% less #tractive effort, compared to a ₹21 crore solution from #CLW. His ideas diverted attention from important issues affecting the #health of Indian Railways. The bold #transformation was only about gaining power and did not aim to improve or strengthen the system. #Sudheer-Sense lacked #competence, resulting in half-baked or half-minded crooked ideas as revealed in this paper.

He got rid of checks that could have challenged his fancy ideas technically. While #RDSO needed #reform, it did not deserve to be abolished. Now, RDSO has become a #rubber-stamping organization that cannot stand up for railway interests. It lacks #authority derived from #conviction. Speaking to any officer will reveal that RDSO is more focused on being politically correct. It often rejects good solutions due to a lack of moral courage to hold other vendors accountable or fear of the #vigilance-mafia, which vendors now know they need to keep on their right side. The case of #VipinKumar, who had to be moved from #CVO/RDSO after the exposé, is a perfect example.

The real #transformation needed is not the half-baked #IRMS, which will only strengthen long-standing #Group ‘B’ officers and #supervisors without any #rotation. The increasing number of #accidents indicates that the core of the #system is deteriorating. By involving #vendors in core #maintenance, each #Tender will face #legal challenges and #scrutiny from vigilance offices, leading to a passive system similar to what has happened in RDSO, which has withdrawn itself institutionally.

There is no need to be politically correct; just visit East Central Railway (#ECR) to witness the lack of hope for improvement. The smaller railways do not allow for meaningful rotation, leading to a lack of rotation in railway #hospitals and ultimately the death of railwaymen. The #administrative chaos caused by new railways like #ECR is now causing harm to poor passengers.

Sudheer-Sense’s ideas for railway #toilets have resulted in such #horrible-odours that middle-class #travellers now consider #railway-travel as a last resort. So, why is Indian Railways determined to spend an extra ₹60-70 crore on #passenger-rakes?

Government and Ministry of Railways needs to #reconsider the #decision to break up railway zones under #NitishKumar’s incompetent and directionless leadership, as it has only increased administrative expenses and negatively impacted #rail-safety. The creation of #smaller-zones has also led to increased entrenchment.

प्रस्तुति: सुरेश त्रिपाठी