Rail budget could roll out more trains despite Kakodkar alert

"At present, there are 43,000 ICF coaches running which have to be replaced with the LHB coaches in five years," the report says.

The committee also recommended installing automatic train protection equipment in trains. The Indian Railways' attempt at this, however, failed as its train protection and warning system was hit with technical glitches and was held unreliable. "We are working on a new anti-collision system but when we'll get a foolproof system is not fixed as yet," a Rail Board official told FE.

The independent railway safety authority still remains a distant dream as nobody is clear about its contours or whether it will see the light of the day or not.

"The formation of the authority is still not clear," the official said.

The apex body of the railways too came in for criticism from the Kakodkar committee. "The Rail Board has the unique distinction of being the rule maker, operator and the regulator, all wrapped in one," the report says.

For better track record

* Panel suggests elimination of all level crossings (manned & unmanned) in 5 years at an estimated cost of Rs.50,000 cr

* Implementation of Advance Signalling System covering 19,000 km of trunk route at a cost of Rs.20,000 cr

* Maintenance of safety-related infra at a cost of Rs.20,000 cr

* New coaches to be of safer LBH type, costing Rs.10,000 cr

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