Lok Sabha Question No. 2691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Kanchanjunga Express-goods Train Collision in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2691 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## KANCHANJUNGA EXPRESS - GOODS TRAIN COLLISSION IN WEST BENGAL

2691. MS SAYANI GHOSH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the probe report on the Kanchanjunga Express-goods train collision  in  West  Bengal  pointed  out  that  it  was  an  "accident-inwaiting"  due  to  "lapses  at  multiple  levels"  in  managing  train operations  in  the  event  of  "automatic  signal  failures",  and  could have been avoided, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Commissioner  of  Railway  Safety  (CRS)  probing  the incident  also  called  for  implementation  of  the  automatic  trainprotection  system-KAVACH-on  top priority, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  number  of  train  accidents  that  have  taken  place  due  to signalling failure during in the last five years;
- (d) the  number  of  vacancies  of  signalling  and  telecom  personnel existing in the Railways against the sanctioned strength; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  speedy  rollout  of KAVACH and filling vacancies of signalling and telecom personnel by the Indian Railways?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) & (b) The rear end collision between Train No. 13174 DN (Kanchenjunga Express) and DN GFCJ Container took place on 17.06.2024 at 08.50 Hrs in
- Rangapani  -  Chatterhat  Block  section  of  Katihar  Division  of  Northeast

Frontier  Railway.  This  is  a  Broad  Gauge,  Double  Line,  Electrified  section provided with Automatic Signalling.

This accident has been  inquired into by the statutory body, Chief Commissioner  of  Railway  Safety  (CCRS)  under  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation. According to this  Inquiry  Report,  the  accident  has  been  classified  under the category of 'error in train working'.

The  CCRS  has  inter-alia  recommended  for  'Introduction  of  new  Auto signaling  sections  should  consummate  with  the  provision  of  Automatic Train Protection'.

(c)  During the last 5 years i.e. from 2019-20 to 2023-24 and current year 2024-25  (April  to  November),  based  on  the  final  findings  and  causes,  as established by Inquiry Committee, total 4 train accidents took place over Indian Railways on account of Signalling.

(d) & (e) Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process on Indian Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and criticality of operation.  Adequate  and  suitable  manpower  is  provided  to  cater  to  the regular operations, changes in technology, mechanizations and innovative practices. The vacancies are filled up primarily by placement of indents by Railways with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological requirements.

After  easing  of  restrictions  imposed  on  account  of  COVID  19,  two  major examinations  involving more  than  2.37 crore  candidates  have  been conducted successfully.

| Exam    | Candidates   |   Cities |   Centres |   Days |   Shifts |
|---------|--------------|----------|-----------|--------|----------|
| L2 - L6 | 1.26 cr      |      211 |       726 |     68 |      133 |
| L-1     | 1.1 cr       |      191 |       551 |     33 |       99 |

Based  on  these  exams,  1,30,581  candidates  have  been  recruited  in railways.

The  RRB  examinations  are  quite  technical  in  nature  entailing  large scale  mobilization  of  men  and  resources  and  training  of  manpower. Railway overcame all these challenges and successfully conducted the recruitment in a transparent manner following all laid down guidelines. No instance of paper leakage or similar malpractice has occurred during the entire process.

Recruitment done in Indian Railways during 2004-2014 vis-a-vis during 2014 - 2024 is given as under.

| Period   | Recruitments   |
|----------|----------------|
| 2004-14  | 4.11 lakh      |
| 2014-24  | 5.02 lakh      |

Further, as system improvement, the Ministry of Railways has introduced  a  system  of  publishing  annual  calendar  from  2024  for recruitment to various categories of Group 'C' posts. The introduction of annual calendar will benefit the aspirants in the following manner:

-  More opportunities for candidates;
-  Opportunities to those becoming eligible every year;
-  Certainty of exams;
-  Faster Recruitment process, Training and Appointments

Accordingly,  eight  Centralized  Employment  Notifications  (CENs)  for 58,642 vacancies have been notified during January to October 2024 for filling up of posts of Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians, Sub-Inspectors & Constables in Railway Protection Force (RPF), Junior Engineers/Depot

Material Superintendents/Chemical & Metallurgical Assistants, Paramedical Categories, Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduates) & Non-Technical Popular Categories  (Under-Graduates). The Computer Based Test has started from 25.11.2024.

Further the steps taken by the Government to ensure speedy roll out of

KAVACH are as under:

1. Kavach  is  an  indigenously  developed  Automatic  Train  Protection (ATP) system. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order (SIL-4).
2. Kavach aids the Loco Pilot in running of train within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do  so  and  also  helps  the  trains  to  run  safely  during  inclement weather.
3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February 2016.  Based  on  the  experience  gained  and  Independent  Safety Assessment  of  the  system  by  Independent  Safety  Assessor  (ISA),
4. three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach Ver 3.2.
5. 4.
6. Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020.
5. Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
8.  Installation  of  Station  Kavach  at  each  and  every  station,  block section.
9. 
10. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
11.  Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
12. 
13. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
14.  Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.
6. Based on deployment of Kavach version 3.2 on 1465 RKm on south central  Railway,  lot  of  experience  was  gained.  Using  that  further improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.
7. Kavach  version  4.0  covers  all  the  major  features  required  for  the diverse railway network. This is a significant milestone in safety for Indian Railways. Within a short period, IR has developed, tested and started deploying Automatic Train Protection System.
8. Major  improvement  in  Version 4.0 includes increased Location Accuracy,  Improved  Information  of  Signal  Aspects  in  bigger  yard, Station  to  Station  Kavach  interface  on  OFC  and  Direct  Interface  to existing  Electronic  Interlocking  System.  With  these  improvements, Kavach  Ver.4.0.  is  planned  for  large  scale  deployment  over  Indian Railways.
9. Progress of Key items comprising Kavach system on Indian Railways upto Oct' 2024 is as under:
10. Next phase of Kavach implementation is planned as under:-
20.  Project for equipping 10,000 Locomotives has been finalized.
21.  Bids  for  track  side  Works  of  Kavach  for  approximately  15000 RKm  have  been  invited.  It  covers  all  GQ,  GD,  HDN  and Identified sections of Indian Railways.
11. Currently, 3 OEMs are approved for supply of Kavach System. To increase capacity and scale of implementation, trials and approval of more OEMs are at different stages.
12. Specialized training programme on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training to all concerned officials. By now more than 9000 technicians, operators  and  engineers  have  been  trained  on  Kavach  technology. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.

| SN.   | Items                                | Progress   |
|-------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i     | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 5116 Km    |
| ii    | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 538 Nos.   |
| iii   | Provision of Kavach at Stations      | 521 Nos.   |
| iv    | Provision of Kavach in Loco          | 687 Locos  |
| v     | Installation of Track side equipment | 3413 Rkm   |

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