Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said that lapses in the 'signalling-circuit-alteration' leading to wrong signals caused the tragic triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore district in June.
The union minister was responding to the queries from the Rajya Sabha members.
"The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signalling-circuit-alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past, and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no. 94 at the Station. These lapses resulted in wrong signalling to Train No. 12841 wherein the UP Home Signal indicated a Green aspect for run-through movement on the UP main line of the station. but the crossover connecting the UP main line to the UP loop line (crossover 17A/B) was set to the UP loop line; the wrong signalling resulted in the Train No. 12841 traversing on the UP loop line, and eventual rear-collision with the Goods train (No.N/DDIP) standing there," Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha.
Vaishnaw said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation has completed its inquiry into the Balasore train accident that claimed 295 lives.
It was on June 2 that the tragic accident took place involving the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, the Howrah-bound Shalimar Express and a goods train.
As many as 176 sustained grievous injures in the incident.
“In the said accident 41 deceased persons have not yet been identified,” he said.
He further added that the Departmental Inquiry Committee and the Commissioner of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation are the main agencies probing the causes of different accidents.
"During the last 5 years (2018-2023), 201 accident cases were investigated by the Departmental Inquiry committee and 18 cases have been investigated by the Commission of Railway Safety," said the Union Minister.
"As per the recommendations suggested by the different accident inquiry committees in their report, appropriate action has been taken by the Railway Administration," Vaishnaw.
There have been 13 cases of signalling failure in 5 years but no incident due to defects in the interlocking signal system, he added.
"In last 5 years, there have been no incidences due to defects in the interlocking signal system...No expert has pointed out any loopholes or deficiencies in interlocking signalling system of Railways," said the minister in his response to a question.
Rajya Sabha was also informed that the automatic train protection system, Kavach, has so far been deployed on 1,465 route km and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) in the South Central Railway.
"Indian Railways is preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) and detailed estimate for another 6,000 rkm. The amount spent so far on Kavach implementation is Rs 351.91 crore. The cost for provision of track side including Station equipment of Kavach is approximately Rs 50 Lakh/Km and cost for provision of Kavach equipment on loco is approximately Rs 70 lakh/ loco," he said.
(With PTI inputs)