Damaged signal cables could lead to 'catastrophic consequences': Railways to all zones

New Delhi: The Railway Board has asked its zonal offices to exercise greater care while taking up infrastructure work as damage to signal and telecommunication cables can pose a serious threat to safety and train operations.

The Board has written to zones after receiving complaints of cable cuts or damages while undertaking infrastructure works leading to signal failures and disruption in train operations.

The Board said that all zones are "undertaking large-scale infrastructure, safety and reliability enhancement works such as doubling, yard remodeling, construction of boundary walls, LHS (Limited Height Subway), ABS (Automatic Block Signalling), Kavach etc".

During execution of these works, incidents of cable cuts or damages are being reported frequently, it said.

"Such repeated signal failures due to cable damages pose a serious threat to the safety and reliability of train services and could lead to catastrophic consequences if adequate precautions are not taken," the letter read.

The letter has suggested several steps to prevent damage to signal and telecommunication cables such as utility shifting before commencing digging work, proper coordination between various departments before undertaking any work near or along the track, and ensuring the provision of integrated Cable Route Plans, which have already been circulated to all zones.

The Board said that safety instructions have been issued to zones from time to time for protecting the signal and telecommunication cables along the railway tracks; however, "cases of cable cut/damage continue to be reported frequently".