Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed a remarkable 90 percent decrease in train accidents and derailments since 2005-06, attributing this success to targeted safety initiatives and advancements in technology.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Railway Ministry’s performance, Vaishnaw said, “In 2005-06, when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister, there were 234 accidents. If you add derailments then the number goes up to 698. Meaning, average two per day. When Mamata Banerjee was railway minister, there were 165 accidents and if you add derailments, it goes up to 395, meaning on average one per day. When Mallikarjun Kharge was the minister, there were 118 accidents and if you add derailments, the number reaches 381. Meaning more than one per day… Today (2024-2025), there have been 30 accidents and if you add derailments, the number goes up to 73. Meaning the number which was around 700 has come down to 80 which is [almost] one-tenth.”
Emphasizing a strong commitment to safety, Vaishnaw stated that the railways have implemented various technological measures to mitigate risks. These measures include the use of longer, high-tensile strength rails, electronic interlocking systems at stations and level crossings, the installation of fog safety devices, and the introduction of the domestically developed ‘Kavach’ train collision avoidance system. “When we compare data, there is a minor aspect of weld failure that has seen a remarkable 92 percent decrease. Additionally, rail fractures, which numbered approximately 2,500 in 2013-14, have been reduced to 250, marking a 91 percent decline,” the minister noted.
