Performance Audit on Derailments in Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways

A performance audit of derailments in Indian Railways for 2017-18 to 2020-21, examining whether measures to prevent derailments and collisions were laid down and implemented, whether accident inquiries were timely and their recommendations acted on, and whether the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh safety fund was deployed as its guidelines require. It analyses 1,129 inquiry reports across 16 zonal railways.

Audit period: 1 Apr 2017 — 31 Mar 2021
Presented: 21 Dec 2022

Findings

Inspections by track recording cars — the vehicles that measure whether a track is still within geometric and structural tolerance — fell short by between 30 and 100 per cent.
“There were shortfalls ranging from 30-100 per cent in inspections by Track Recording Cars required to assess geometrical and structural conditions of railway tracks.”Executive Summary
Track maintenance machines sat idle mainly because the operating department did not give traffic blocks (32 per cent) or divisions did not plan them (30 per cent), with operational problems accounting for 19 per cent and staff shortage five per cent.
“The idling of Track machines was noticed on account of blocks not given by the Operating Department (32 per cent), blocks not planned by Divisions (30 per cent), operational problems (19 per cent), non-availability of staff (five per cent) and no scope of work (three per cent).”Executive Summary
Analysis of 1,129 derailment inquiry reports across 16 zonal railways identified 24 causes, and the reported loss of assets in those cases was ₹32.96 crore.
“Analysis of 1129 'Inquiry Reports' of derailment accidents in 16 Zonal Railways (ZRs) revealed 24 factors responsible for derailments in the selected cases/accidents. The total damages/loss of assets in these cases was reported as ₹ 32.96 crore.”Executive Summary
422 derailments were attributed to the engineering department, of which maintenance of track accounted for 171 and track parameters deviating beyond permissible limits for 156.
“Total 422 derailments were attributable to the 'Engineering Department'. The major factor responsible for derailment was related to 'maintenance of track' (171 cases), followed by 'deviation of track parameters beyond permissible limits' (156 cases).”Executive Summary
275 accidents were attributed to the operating department, of which 84 per cent came from incorrect setting of points and other mistakes in shunting; 182 to the mechanical department, mostly wheel and coach or wagon defects; and 154 to loco pilots, mainly bad driving or over-speeding.
“The number of accidents attributable to the 'Operating Department' was 275. 'Incorrect setting of points and other mistakes in shunting operations' accounted for 84 per cent… The number of derailments attributable to the 'Mechanical Department' was 182. Defects in 'wheel diameter variation and defects in coaches/wagons' were the major contributor (37 per cent)… The number of accidents attributable to the 'Loco Pilots' was 154. 'Bad Driving/Over speeding' was the major factor responsible for derailments.”Executive Summary
In 63 per cent of cases the inquiry report was not submitted to the accepting authority within the prescribed time, and in 49 per cent the acceptance itself was delayed.
“In 63 per cent cases, the 'inquiry reports' were not submitted to the accepting authority within the prescribed time schedule. In 49 per cent cases, there was a delay in the acceptance of the reports by accepting authorities.”Executive Summary
Spending from the dedicated safety fund on the highest-priority works fell from 81.55 per cent in 2017-18 to 73.76 per cent in 2019-20, and the allotment for track renewal dropped from ₹9,607.65 crore to ₹7,417 crore — money that was then not fully used, while 289 of 1,127 derailments were linked to track renewals.
“The overall expenditure on Priority-I works from RRSK showed a declining trend from 81.55 per cent in 2017-18 to 73.76 per cent in 2019-20. The allotment of funds for Track Renewal works declined from ₹ 9607.65 crore (2018-19) to ₹ 7417 crore in 2019-20. The funds allocated to track renewal works were also not fully utilized. Out of 1127 derailments during 2017-21, 289 derailments (26 per cent) were linked to track renewals.”Executive Summary
Fire extinguishers had not been provided in 27,763 coaches — 62 per cent — in violation of the norms.
“Fire extinguishers had not been provided in 27,763 coaches (62 per cent) in violation of extant norms.”Executive Summary
Of 2,908 manned level crossings targeted for elimination between 2018 and 2021, 2,059 — 70 per cent — were eliminated.
“Out of 2908 manned level crossings (nine per cent) targeted for elimination during 2018-21, only 2059 (70 per cent) level crossings were eliminated.”Executive Summary

Fact-checks citing this report

Lacks contextPrioritize Safety and invest in long required overhaul of stressed infrastructure, strict norms and warning systems… Convert all unmanned crossings into manned crossings in a phased manner.

Performance Audit on Derailments in Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways

Findings

Inspections by track recording cars — the vehicles that measure whether a track is still within geometric and structural tolerance — fell short by between 30 and 100 per cent.

“There were shortfalls ranging from 30-100 per cent in inspections by Track Recording Cars required to assess geometrical and structural conditions of railway tracks.”Executive Summary

Track maintenance machines sat idle mainly because the operating department did not give traffic blocks (32 per cent) or divisions did not plan them (30 per cent), with operational problems accounting for 19 per cent and staff shortage five per cent.

“The idling of Track machines was noticed on account of blocks not given by the Operating Department (32 per cent), blocks not planned by Divisions (30 per cent), operational problems (19 per cent), non-availability of staff (five per cent) and no scope of work (three per cent).”Executive Summary

Analysis of 1,129 derailment inquiry reports across 16 zonal railways identified 24 causes, and the reported loss of assets in those cases was ₹32.96 crore.

“Analysis of 1129 'Inquiry Reports' of derailment accidents in 16 Zonal Railways (ZRs) revealed 24 factors responsible for derailments in the selected cases/accidents. The total damages/loss of assets in these cases was reported as ₹ 32.96 crore.”Executive Summary

422 derailments were attributed to the engineering department, of which maintenance of track accounted for 171 and track parameters deviating beyond permissible limits for 156.

“Total 422 derailments were attributable to the 'Engineering Department'. The major factor responsible for derailment was related to 'maintenance of track' (171 cases), followed by 'deviation of track parameters beyond permissible limits' (156 cases).”Executive Summary

275 accidents were attributed to the operating department, of which 84 per cent came from incorrect setting of points and other mistakes in shunting; 182 to the mechanical department, mostly wheel and coach or wagon defects; and 154 to loco pilots, mainly bad driving or over-speeding.

“The number of accidents attributable to the 'Operating Department' was 275. 'Incorrect setting of points and other mistakes in shunting operations' accounted for 84 per cent… The number of derailments attributable to the 'Mechanical Department' was 182. Defects in 'wheel diameter variation and defects in coaches/wagons' were the major contributor (37 per cent)… The number of accidents attributable to the 'Loco Pilots' was 154. 'Bad Driving/Over speeding' was the major factor responsible for derailments.”Executive Summary

In 63 per cent of cases the inquiry report was not submitted to the accepting authority within the prescribed time, and in 49 per cent the acceptance itself was delayed.

“In 63 per cent cases, the 'inquiry reports' were not submitted to the accepting authority within the prescribed time schedule. In 49 per cent cases, there was a delay in the acceptance of the reports by accepting authorities.”Executive Summary

Spending from the dedicated safety fund on the highest-priority works fell from 81.55 per cent in 2017-18 to 73.76 per cent in 2019-20, and the allotment for track renewal dropped from ₹9,607.65 crore to ₹7,417 crore — money that was then not fully used, while 289 of 1,127 derailments were linked to track renewals.

“The overall expenditure on Priority-I works from RRSK showed a declining trend from 81.55 per cent in 2017-18 to 73.76 per cent in 2019-20. The allotment of funds for Track Renewal works declined from ₹ 9607.65 crore (2018-19) to ₹ 7417 crore in 2019-20. The funds allocated to track renewal works were also not fully utilized. Out of 1127 derailments during 2017-21, 289 derailments (26 per cent) were linked to track renewals.”Executive Summary

Fire extinguishers had not been provided in 27,763 coaches — 62 per cent — in violation of the norms.

“Fire extinguishers had not been provided in 27,763 coaches (62 per cent) in violation of extant norms.”Executive Summary

Of 2,908 manned level crossings targeted for elimination between 2018 and 2021, 2,059 — 70 per cent — were eliminated.

“Out of 2908 manned level crossings (nine per cent) targeted for elimination during 2018-21, only 2059 (70 per cent) level crossings were eliminated.”Executive Summary