New Delhi, 22 April (H.S.): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the pivotal role of track maintainers as the backbone of safe train operations and rail modernization, assuring topmost priority to their safety, working conditions, and welfare during the All India Track Maintainers Conference organized by the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) at Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Addressing over 3,000 delegates nationwide, Vaishnaw pledged ample modern equipment, superior facilities, and resources for these frontline workers. He highlighted a 90% plunge in rail accidents over the past decade—a monumental feat—yet urged pushing toward single-digit incidents, aligning Indian Railways with developed nations' safety benchmarks.

Vaishnaw detailed the 'RakshaK' VHF-based safety system’s limitations in curved tracks, hilly terrains, and long stretches, now supplanted by a more reliable mobile phone-based alternative undergoing pilot testing.

Modernization strides include 36,000 km of new tracks laid in a decade, 1,800 track machines scaling to 3,000 for streamlined inspections, and innovative rail-cum-road vehicles piloted in Bhavnagar Division—enabling equipped, seated physical assessments to supplant arduous manual methods. Drone surveillance, precision gauges for turnouts, 60-kg rails, 90 UTS rails, 207m panels, frictionless switches, and weldable CMS crossings aim for nationwide ubiquity.

Railway Board Member (Infrastructure) Vivek Kumar Gupta emphasized stringent safety adherence and regular audits, pledging positive action on staffing shortages and work hours. Northern Railway GM Rajesh Kumar Pandey lauded maintainers' critical contributions, detailing tech integration, gear provision, and training enhancements. AIRF Secretary General Shiv Gopal Mishra raised arduous conditions, demanding optimized shifts, adequate manpower, modern safety gear, health amenities, and women-specific facilities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar