Zero-Accident Mission of Railways
In the Railway Budget 2016-17, Mission Zero Accident was one of the Missions announced, comprising the two sub-missions:
- Elimination of unmanned level crossings (UMLC) over broad gauge in the next 3-4 years.
- Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to prevent collisions and signal passing at danger by the Loco Pilot.
What are the steps taken?
- railway tracks are replaced through track renewal works which is an ongoing process.
- In order to improve signaling, electrical/electronic interlocking system with centralized operation of points and signals are being provided to eliminate human failure and to replace old mechanical systems.
- Superior and safer Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Coaches having anti-climbing features have been progressively introduced on Indian Railways to reduce the fatalities in case of accidents.
- In the Budget 2017-18, an exclusive fund called “Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh” (RRSK) has been made with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore over a period of 5 years for giving a major boost to safety related works over Indian Railways for improving safety of tracks, rolling stock and proliferation of other safety technologies and training of staff.
Mission Raftaar
- With a view to increasing speed of trains in Indian Railways, ‘Mission Raftaar’ was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17.
- The mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of all non-suburban passenger trains by 25 kmph in the next 5 years.
- The Mission is being spearheaded by a cross disciplinary mobility Directorate in the Railway Board. The average speed is reckoned as one of the key indicators of all the railway productivity and efficiency in operations and utilization of assets.
Council for Trade Development and Promotion
- The Council for Trade Development and Promotion was constituted on 03.07.15 under the chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, in pursuance to the provisions of Foreign Trade Policy statement 2015-20.
- The objective was to ensure a continuous dialogue with the governments of states and Union Territories on measures for providing an international trade enabling environment in the states and to create a framework for making the states active partners in boosting India’s exports.
- The1st and 2nd meeting of the Council was held in New Delhi on 08.01.2016 and 05.01.2017 respectively.
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