The Indian Railways has been instrumental in ushering a new era in the sphere of mass urban transportation in India. Indian railways has been treated as a national common carrier transporting passengers as well as goods over its vast network. The Indian Railways has 114,500 kilometers (71,147 miles) of total track over a route of 65,000 kilometers (40,389 miles) and 7,500 stations. It has the world’s fourth largest railway network after those of the United States, Russia and China.
Railways are duty bound to secure the right to security of each and every individual in our country. Despite of that the Indian railways have failed to provide the following safety and security measures:
Safety Measures:
Anti-Collusion Devices (ACD): ACD is a global positioning system (GPS) based system developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), aimed to prevent train collisions at higher speeds by actuation of automatic application of train brakes in collusion like situations. Anti-collusion Device has been installed only in Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Alcohol Detection Devices: Alcohol Detection Devices are required at railway stations to detect the drunk people entering the stations. As section 145 of the Railway Act, 1989 provides punishment for drunkenness at railway stations. This particular section cannot be enforced until the railway police/security people are equipped with alcohol checking devices.
Emergency Telephone at platforms from where a passenger can directly call the station control room in case of emergency. This is required because most of the time passengers are in grave/urgent situations and they require urgent help and presently most stations in India are not equipped with emergency telephones at the railway stations.
Security Measures:
Scanning Machines: Scanning Machines are necessary to check the luggage of passengers at the railway stations. The security of the railway system can’t be made full proof until passengers’ belongings are properly scanned at the entrance points of railway stations. Most of the stations in India are not equipped with the scanning machines to check the belongings of passengers which is a major security lapse.
CCTV Cameras:
CCTV cameras ensure the smooth functioning of any railway station and helps in monitoring and tracking of any illegal activity. Metal Detector Doors and Handheld Metal Detectors are necessary to make the travel of every commuter safe so that no unscrupulous elements enter the station with any prohibited or dangerous material. The above-mentioned safety and security measures are directly related to protection of the precious life of commuters of Indian Railways.
Indian Railways have failed to comply with the constitutional obligation to provide basic adequate safety and security measures to the commuters of Indian Railways. Alcohol checking devices are very much necessary on Indian railway stations to check the unidentified drunk people and unscrupulous elements entering the railway stations and to make sure commuters don’t feel unsafe at railways stations.
Indian Railways have failed to comply with the constitutional obligation to provide basic adequate safety and security measures to the commuters of Indian Railways. Alcohol checking devices are very much necessary on Indian railway stations to check the unidentified drunk people and unscrupulous elements entering the railway stations and to make sure commuters don’t feel unsafe at railways stations.
Section 145(a) of Railways Act, 1989 explicitly bans commuting in the state of intoxication, however, respondents are themselves deprived of alcohol checking devices to detect the state of intoxication in a commuter. The railway authorities must be equipped with alcohol detection devices to test the state of intoxication and restrict such a person from commuting in the railways.
CONCLUSION
It is extremely important to note that over the years the Indian Railways has augmented its facilities and features both in the Railway Stations as well as on its trains. The Indian Railways has evolved over the past few decades as a more passenger friendly and comfort oriented enterprise. The Railway Stations are now equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and the trains are provided with modern facilities and world class features. On the other hand, the Railways has failed to improve upon its safety and security mechanisms commensurate with providing amenities to its passengers.
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