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NEW DELHI: Amid the rising controversy on railway safety after recent Balasore train crash and the Congress party pointing to the CAG report of 2022, which mentioned how money from the railway safety fund was spent on crockery, car rentals and foot massagers, government sources said a “small amount” was spent for facilities at ‘running rooms’, which are meant for the railway crew such a loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and train managers of freight trains to get proper rest.
Sources said spending was in no way “diversion” or “misuse” of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) fund as facilities at resting places for crew are also meant for safety. They said ensuring proper rest for the crew between duty breaks is crucial considering that several investigations into derailments and accidents have pointed out human errors, fatigue of loco pilots and assistant loco pilots as one of the main reasons. Citing a 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which showed “incorrect booking of expenditure of RRSK” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had tweeted: “This is how funds specifically meant for railway safety were used. This is the CAG’s finding.” The RRSK came into operation in 2017-18.
TOI has learned that the railway ministry will soon submit its response to the CAG with details of expenditure made for the running rooms. Several official presentations and reports, including one of 2013, on running rooms mention the need to provide several facilities such as foot and eye massagers, gym equipment.
Shiv Gopal Mishra of All India Railwaymen’s Federation slammed politics over the issue. “Our loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and train managers put in hard work. The facilities of food and foot massage at running centres are meant for their sound health,” he said.
Officials said the expenditure on safety, to be funded by RRSK, was outlined in finance ministry guidelines. Besides priority safety projects like civil engineering works, signalling, mechanical and electrical works, there was a provision for expenditure on reducing chances of human errors in critical areas of operations, by improving working conditions and training of safety critical staff such as loco pilots etc. Rs 1,861 crore was provided for human resource development.
“Every crew member must get good facilities for rest and these must be better than that of what they get at home. This has been the guiding principle to run fully-equipped running rooms. The loco pilots and assistant loco pilots need to be fully attentive about signal, track and the machine when on duty. So, we need to ensure that when they are back on duty, they are fresh,” said an official.
The CAG report had flagged how expenditure incurred on passenger amenity works, purchase of almirahs, utensils, crockery and furniture amounting to Rs 40.4 crore were booked to the RRSK, though these do not fall under the purview of safety works. It had also pointed out that a sizable expenditure on non-priority works was booked to RRSK after carrying out a sample audit of vouchers of four months.
“The total expenditure booked on non-priority work would be much more if bookings during all the 12 months for all the four years 2017-18 to 2019-20 are considered. This reflects laxity and lack of internal control on the part of Zonal Railways; while booking the expenditure to RRSK,” the report said.
Officials said laptops and computers were also provided for track management system application besides training of safety manpower.
Sources said spending was in no way “diversion” or “misuse” of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) fund as facilities at resting places for crew are also meant for safety. They said ensuring proper rest for the crew between duty breaks is crucial considering that several investigations into derailments and accidents have pointed out human errors, fatigue of loco pilots and assistant loco pilots as one of the main reasons. Citing a 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which showed “incorrect booking of expenditure of RRSK” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had tweeted: “This is how funds specifically meant for railway safety were used. This is the CAG’s finding.” The RRSK came into operation in 2017-18.
TOI has learned that the railway ministry will soon submit its response to the CAG with details of expenditure made for the running rooms. Several official presentations and reports, including one of 2013, on running rooms mention the need to provide several facilities such as foot and eye massagers, gym equipment.
Shiv Gopal Mishra of All India Railwaymen’s Federation slammed politics over the issue. “Our loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and train managers put in hard work. The facilities of food and foot massage at running centres are meant for their sound health,” he said.
Officials said the expenditure on safety, to be funded by RRSK, was outlined in finance ministry guidelines. Besides priority safety projects like civil engineering works, signalling, mechanical and electrical works, there was a provision for expenditure on reducing chances of human errors in critical areas of operations, by improving working conditions and training of safety critical staff such as loco pilots etc. Rs 1,861 crore was provided for human resource development.
“Every crew member must get good facilities for rest and these must be better than that of what they get at home. This has been the guiding principle to run fully-equipped running rooms. The loco pilots and assistant loco pilots need to be fully attentive about signal, track and the machine when on duty. So, we need to ensure that when they are back on duty, they are fresh,” said an official.
The CAG report had flagged how expenditure incurred on passenger amenity works, purchase of almirahs, utensils, crockery and furniture amounting to Rs 40.4 crore were booked to the RRSK, though these do not fall under the purview of safety works. It had also pointed out that a sizable expenditure on non-priority works was booked to RRSK after carrying out a sample audit of vouchers of four months.
“The total expenditure booked on non-priority work would be much more if bookings during all the 12 months for all the four years 2017-18 to 2019-20 are considered. This reflects laxity and lack of internal control on the part of Zonal Railways; while booking the expenditure to RRSK,” the report said.
Officials said laptops and computers were also provided for track management system application besides training of safety manpower.
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