After 1,000 deaths in 6 years, NITI Aayog proposes railway safety authority

Proposal calls for independent, statutory outfit to look into Indian Railways' safety

At a time when there has been a 97.5 per cent increase in the number of causalities due to railway accidents, from 122 in 2015-16 to 241 in 2016-17, a report by NITI Aayog has suggested the setting up of a new statutory independent outfit, the "Railway Safety Authority", to improve the safety situation of Indian railways.

"This is broadly in line with global best practices where railway systems prepare a systematic analysis of the safety risks faced and the set of measures needed to mitigate the risks. The independent safety authority reviews and approves the safety case and oversees