PUNE: The Railway Board has issued directives to all the zonal offices and divisional offices to follow summer safety measures to prevent accidents due to track buckling.
Pune railway division authorities have also arranged for extensive patrolling during the late night and early morning hours. Milind Deouskar, Pune Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), said that a team has been set up for round-the-clock monitoring of railway tracks.
“Summer is a sensitive time for Railways, with tracks developing a lot of complications. We have told all station managers to be alert late at night and early in the morning. Civil engineers have been advised to keep a hawk’s eye on track maintenance as wide variation in day and night time temperatures sometimes causes cracks on tracks. Trackmen have been told to remain alert all the time,” said Manoj Jhawar, spokesperson for the Pune railway division.
Jhawar further added that the ‘summer patrolling’ has been extended between 11 am and 4 pm. “There are many different kinds of problems which the railway tracks face due to the heat. The teams check the tracks for cracks, welding failures, etc. A track which has developed a crack needs to be fixed without any further delay. A process called de-stressing of the tracks - which includes proper maintenance work, plugging of technicals, etc. - must be carried out,” Jhawar said.
“Our safety team is equipped with skills and instruments to de-stress the buckled tracks on the spot,” Jhawar further said and added that gangmen and key men have been tasked with checking fitness of tracks prior to movement of all passenger trains.
