Indian rail expert blames poor implementation, political will for frequent mishaps

New Delhi, July 21 (ANI): An expert on railways transportation has blamed poor implementation of safety policies and lack of political will for the frequent train mishaps in the country.

I.I.M.S Rana, a former Railway Board Chairman, who also headed the Railway Disaster Management Committee, said in New Delhi on Tuesday, that though the railways is looking to introduce the latest technologies to improve safety in passenger trains, the induction of technology on the huge network of railways is a massive challenge.

"To induct technologies on such a huge system, on such a huge scale, it takes time. It brings up all the problems of the country, political problem, leadership problem, bureaucratic problem, implementation problem," said Rana.

Monday's train accident in West Bengal's Sainthia station involving the speeding Uttar Banga Express, and the Vananchal Express claimed 60 lives and left over 90 injured.

Rana said the massive burden on the railways takes a toll on the maintenance of such a wide network.

"Our line capacities are limited. If we introduce more and more trains, then finally there is some affect to the maintenance of the track, for the maintenance of the rolling structure, maintenance of the signalling and telecommunications," Rana added.

Meanwhile, residents in Kolkata have expressed displeasure over the Railway Ministry terming the collision as a case of sabotage.

"The ministry is going for an excuse, naming one person or the other person or the political party or sabotage. It seems there is a negligence and the Railway Ministry, Minister and officials have taken it up as a guaranteed right, that they can play with the lives, they can play with Indian economy, they can play with the sentiments," said Sudeep Chakraborty, a Kolkata resident. (ANI)