Zero train collision in 2018-19: Eco Survey

New Delhi: A day ahead of the Budget 2019, the economic survey on railways shows that the incident of train collisions has come down to zero in the year 2018-19 in Indian Railways.

The Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, tabled the report in Parliament on Thursday.

The report also says that the incidents of derailment have decreased from 78 in 2016-17 to 46 in the year 2018-19.

Besides, in the category-wise break-up shows that except the Konkan Railways, Revenue Earning Freight loading has increased by 4.83 per cent.

"During 2017-18 the Revenue Earning Freight was placed at 1159.55 million tonnes, as against 1106.15 million tonnes during 2016-17," the economic survey mentioned.

Further, elucidating the increase of 5.33 per cent in the revenue earning freight the report says that 61.84 million tonnes is the number in 2018-19 against the freight traffic of 2017-18.

"There is an increase of 2.09 per cent the number of passengers carried by Indian Railways during 2017-18 as compared to 2016-17 and 0.64 per cent increase in 2018-19 as compared to 2017-18," the survey also mentioned.

Regarding Indian Railways Mission Electrification program, Indian Railways has initiated a major electrification program for electrifying 100 per cent of its Broad Gauge network and 35,488 Route Kilometer (RKM) of network commissioned on electric traction which constitutes 51.85 per cent of total network and carries 64.50 per cent of freight and 53.70 per cent of coaching traffic.

The economic survey mentioned, "This would reduce the nation's dependence on imported diesel oil. The pace of electrification accelerated and a total of 38,000 RKM have been identified for electrification by 2021."

It also pointed out that the railways has encouraged Green Certification of workshop and Production Units through Green Industries Certification in collaboration which Confederation of Indian Industry. So far 10 Railway Stations, 34 workshops and 4 Production Units have been green certified by CII.

The economic survey of the 2018-2019 lauded Indian Railways for being cost-effective transport mode for long distance journey. Further ensure the safety, security and comfort to the passengers.

Participation in incumbent government's cleanliness drive, Indian Railways' participation is also notable, which the survey emphasised.

In terms of installing plastic bottle crusher machines, mechanized cleaning and housekeeping or the customer service with the provision of lifts and escalators in the stations.

Besides, as per the swachh rail portal, Beas station ranked first in India in the case of cleanliness among 'A'

category stations and Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh tops the list among 'A1' category stations.