Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continuing basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety. Strategy of the Indian Railways for accident prevention include progressively achieving reduction in accidents attributable to human failure by way of introduction of modern technologies and devices and mechanization of maintenance. Safety measures taken by the Railways include timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signaling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices. Safety devices/systems being introduced to prevent accidents include provision of Block Proving Axle Counters (BPAC), auxilliary Warning System (AWS), Fog Safe Device, Vigilance Control Device (VCD), Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)/Anti Collision Device (ACD) etc.

Each and every consequential train accident is enquired into either by Commission of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation or by a Departmental Enquiry Committee depending upon severity of the accidents.

Based on the reports of Commission of Railway Safety and Departmental Enquiry Committees, out of 93 consequential train accidents during 2010-11, 59 were attributable to failure of Railway staff, 10 due to failure of other than Railway staff, 2 due to failure of equipment, 16 due to sabotage, 2 due to combination of factors, 4 due to incidental factors. Loss to Railway property in the above 93 consequential train accidents has been estimated to be approximately Rs. 71.93 crore.

Findings/recommendations of the Commissioners of Railway Safety/Departmental Enquiry Committees are examined by the concerned departments of Indian Railways for compliance. During 2010-11, major and minor penalties were imposed on 66 and 71 erring officials, respectively. Out of these, 23 Railway officials have been removed/dismissed from service.

City.Mobi

Also in India today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to New Delhi.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

NewDelhi.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

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City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.