Ensure Supply of Hygienic Food in Trains

Ministry of Railways03-May, 2013 13:14 IST

Railways Take Measures to Ensure Supply of Hygienic Food in Trains

It is a continuous endeavour by the Indian Railways to provide good quality hygienic food to Railway passengers. Accordingly, a New Catering Policy, 2010 has been introduced on 21.7.2010 with a mandate for effective quality assurance programme, wherein ISO-22000 (International Organization for Standardization) standards are to be progressively implemented for major contracts/units. Supervision and monitoring have been strengthened through a mechanism put in place by deploying railway personnel, who check quality and hygiene and take corrective action in a time-bound manner. Catering Monitoring Cells have been set up at Zonal and Divisional level for daily monitoring of the catering activities. Further, on the same pattern, a centralized Catering Complaint Monitoring Cell has been set up in Board’s office having a toll free number 1800-111-321 for prompt redressal of the passenger grievances related to the catering activates for real time assistance to travelling public. A total number of 405 food samples were picked up for sample tests from Rajdhani Express trains, including Guwahati and Dibrugarh bound trains in the year 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Appropriate action under prevention of Food Adulteration Acct/food Safety and Standard Act have been initiated for any food sample found unfit. Besides this departmental action like imposition of fine, warning etc. have also been undertaken. All the passenger amenity items fitted in the coaches of Indian Railways, including those of Rajdhani Express trains, are monitored during the various maintenance schedules and the deficiencies found, if any, are rectified. On Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS) for cleaning attention on run has also been prescribed for all the Rajdhani Express trains. Complaints/references received from the passengers regarding passenger amenities in the coaches are acted upon appropriately by Indian Railways. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. AKS/HK/BS (Release ID :95505)

Computerised tests for train drivers by Rlys

New Delhi, DHNS: May 31, 2013

In order to curb human error in train operation and reduce accidents, the Indian Railways will expand the use of computerised mental ability tests for drivers prior to their deployment on long distance trains. In India, currently 43 per cent of railway accidents have human error behind them.

The improved psycho-physical tests are also to be used for Assistant Station Masters to ascertain their mental abilities in coping with the challenges of safety and security.
 Lucknow based Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is developing these in-house psychological tests for safety performance of operating staff to do away with imported tests.

Cause-wise analysis indicates that 42  per cent of accidents took place due to failure of railway staff, 43 per cent due to failure of other than railway staff, 7 per cent due to sabotage, 3 per cent each due to failure of equipment and incidental and balance,1 per cent each due to combination of factors and non-establishment of cause.

Thus, a large chunk of accidents is on account of human failure.

The ministry is completely computerising aptitude testing and introducing changes in testing pattern currently being used for safety performance.

Eight assessment centres with biometric security system are also being set up across the country to screen loco pilots.

To enrich testing methods, new tests of depth perception and perceptual speed for measuring critical cognitive attributes of drivers and Assistant Station Masters(ASMs) having bearing on safety performance have recently been developed.

Currently drivers for high speed trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, having speed more than 110 km per hour are screened through indigenously developed Computer Aided Drivers Aptitude tests.

This includes 17 tests for assessment of psycho-physical cognitive and personality attributes imperative for the job.

The tests measure specific abilities related to the job such as Reaction Time, Form Perception, Vigilance and Speed anticipation.

So far about 1500 drivers have been screened through this system