Delay in bridge repair work, a threat to human lives: CAG

Coming down heavily on railways for the delay in sanctioning and completing repair work in old bridges, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said it "posed a threat to human lives."
CAG observed that in 31 out of 102 bridgeworks test checked, Railways took on an average 43 months to sanction the bridgeworks after its identification for rehabilitation.
"Delay in sanctioning and completion of bridgeworks identified for rehabilitation is a threat to human lives and railway assets during operation of train services on these bridges," the CAG said in its latest report tabled in parliament today.
There are over 1.36 lakh railway bridges which are an essential part of the Indian Railways network. The existence of a large number of very old bridges identified as due for rehabilitation/ reconstruction is a concern for safe train operations.

The Corporate Safety Plan (CSP) of railways envisaged planned rehabilitation of bridges duly providing funds through normal outlay during 2003-13.
CAG primarily reviewed to assess that the mechanism for identification and planning for rehabilitation/ reconstruction of railway bridges was effective and efficient.

Railway Board fixes targets for rehabilitation of bridges based on the proposal and monetary limit provided for the Zonal Railways.
CAG has found that there was shortfall in achievement of target in nine Zonal Railways. There was also under-utilisation of funds to the extent of Rs 60.95 crore on an average per year.
Delay in sanctioning of bridgeworks and completion of sanctioned bridgeworks resulted in operation of train services with speed restriction, it noted.

CAG found instances of continued speed restriction were noticed on 87 bridges over 13 Zonal Railways resulting in extra expenditure of Rs 103.40 crore.
The national auditor also noted that 96 out of 147 bridges, considered to be prone to brittleness and to be phased-out by end of 2013, are still in existence over five Zonal Railways.
Besides it noticed shortfall in the scheduled inspection of bridges by various levels of inspection authority to the extent of 32.19 per cent which may be a "serious threat" to safety of passengers as the existence of defects of the bridges, if any, may remain unnoticed.