Konkan Railways Gears Up For Passengers Safety During Monsoon, Will Limit Speed of Mumbai-Goa Trains to 40 KMPH
Expecting heavy monsoon this season, Konkan Railways has instructed its loco pilots to reduce the speed of trains on Mumbai-Goa or other KR routes to 40 kilometres per hour (kmph) during heavy rainfall.
Mumbai, May 26: Expecting heavy monsoon this season, Konkan Railways has instructed its loco pilots to reduce the speed of trains on the route to 40 kilometres per hour (kmph) during heavy rainfall. The Railways informed that the restriction would be applicable for Mumbai-Goa or other KR routes from June 10 onwards till October-end.
According to the latest development, the new speed limit is a further added to the previous direction in which the railways had slowed down the speed from 100kmph to 75kmph in certain sections during monsoon. The new speed limits would be implemented by the Konkan Railways in their monsoon timetable. Indian Railways to Get USD 750 Million Loan From ADB For Track Electrification Project
As per the KR spokesperson LK Verme, the decision to reduce the speed was taken as visibility goes down drastically during heavy rainfall and the route passes through hilly terrain. These areas are prone to landslides and rain-induced calamities. Verma said, as quoted by Hindustan Times, “Loco pilots have been asked to further bring the speed down to 40kmph, if there is heavy rain and visibility is very low.”
Along with this, the Railways has also decided to appoint 630 personnel to patrol the route during the monsoon months. Also, watchmen will be deployed for 24x7 vigil. Verma added, "Wagon-mounted excavators are ready at all nominated points for quick movement during an emergency." Stating that 50 passenger trains will be affected due to this decision, Verma said goods trains, run via KR route, will also decrease the speed from Kolad in Raigad to Thokur near Mangalore.
To ensure full-proof safety the Railways has provided mobile phones to loco pilots, station masters and field officials. Walkie-talkies and every station equipped with a 25-watt VHF base station to enable wireless communication are also on the cards.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2019 06:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).