Date:08/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/08/stories/2003010805521300.htm

National

Railway accident rate on the decline: Nitish

By Our Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR. JAN. 7. The Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, today claimed that the accident rate of the Railways had come down over the years.

Laying the foundation stone for the East Coast Railway Headquarters here this evening, he said on full utilisation of Rs.17,000 crores Special Railway Safety Fund, Railway Ministers could ``sleep peacefully after five to six years''.

Denying the charges that the funds were being diverted for the creation of new zones, Mr. Kumar said rules had been framed in such a manner that not a paisa could be diverted and would be utilised only for improving safety and ensuring accident-free travel.

Under the programme, the funds would be used for changing old tracks, replacing distressed bridges, improving signalling equipments and installing anti-collision devices.

Mr. Kumar said the anti-collision device, which was undergoing tests, would prevent trains from colliding if they were on the same track and would stop them automatically at a distance of three km.

Claiming that the creation of seven new zones would be beneficial to the Railways, Mr. Kumar said though the zones were created amidst criticism, new zones would enhance the operational efficiency of the Railways.

``People have already begun to realise how they were going to make a positive difference.''

He said the East Coast zone would become operational from the April 1, this year.

Mr. Kumar said the Railways would not seek funds from the Government for creation of the new zones and, instead, would generate funds from internal resources. It would be easier for the Railways if the zones were smaller.

Assuring the gathering that there would be no impediments to the operation of the new zone, Mr. Kumar said it would comprise part of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

The Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, said the Railways should allocate more funds to the State in the next financial year as it contributed 30 per cent of the Railway's earnings.