Shri Ashutosh Gangal, GM, Northern Railway reviews issues related to Safety, Rolling Stock Asset Maintenance, and Train Operations during winters

Shri Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager, Northern Railway (NR) held a performance review meeting with the departmental heads of Northern Railway through video conferencing from Baroda House, NR headquarter office in New Delhi on 16.11.2020.

  • Detailed discussions were held on issues and cases relating to : safety, rail fractures and rail joint issues during winter, train operations in foggy weather Signal cable cutting cases mainly by outsiders, efforts being put in to increase train speed, digitization of Railway, material management and scrap disposal and preparations for Kumbh Mela at Haridwar.
  • The GM advised on focusing efforts on the maintenance of track, welds of joints, signaling systems and rolling stock assets for unhindered running of trains during the cold foggy winter months. 
  • He added that the frontline staff are the eyes and ears of railways, attention should be given to their periodic training and sensitization to use of gadgets.
  • He took stock of the works being undertaken to remove bottle necks to enhance speed of trains. 
  • Improvement of level crossings, turnouts, doubling, electrification, replacement of rails construction of ROBs and RUBs were some of the points touched upon. 
  • He called upon the concerned departments to expedite the processes. 
  • He also advised to maintain adequate stock pile of materials needed for repair and maintenance of assets along with timely disposal of scrap. 
  • He insisted on completion of digitalization of all railway records to bring in more transparency and clarity on land ownership issues.
  • He expressed his concern over the rising cases of signal cable cutting by outsiders.
  • He was informed by the concerned that such cases are being dealt with heavy hand and prosecuted under Railway Acts. 
  • Signaling systems have been made fog conducive and detonators have been provided.
  • Arrangements for Kumbh Mela to be held at Haridwar from January, 2021 was another major agenda discussed in the meeting, All concerned departments have been asked to be ready with their blueprints.

Expressing satisfaction on the performance of the various departments, Sh. Gangal shared that there has been no consequential train accident reported in the zone and the punctuality has been high, efforts are on to complete the engineering works that cause the bottle neck on time to provide on time train services”.


Source: Northern Railway-Press Release | Image Credit (representational): MoR