Northeast Frontier Railway Conducts Inter-Zonal Safety Audit on Visakhapatnam – Bobbili Section

 

 Guwahati, 01 November: A high-level Safety Audit Team from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Maligaon, led by Shri Uttam Prakash, Principal Chief Safety Officer, recently carried out an extensive safety audit on the Visakhapatnam – Bobbili Section of Visakhapatnam division under South Coast Railway (SCoR) to assess and strengthen safety measures at key railway installations, stations and level crossings.

According to an official statement given by Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, the inter-zonal safety audit, a regular and comprehensive exercise undertaken by multidisciplinary teams, aims to ensure strict compliance with safety standards and the effective implementation of all operational guidelines related to safe train movement. These audits play a crucial role in identifying potential risks, strengthening safety mechanisms and ensuring that best practices are uniformly followed across all railway zones. 

By assessing infrastructure, operations, and maintenance protocols in detail, the exercise contributes significantly to enhancing the overall reliability and safety of train services. The audit teams, comprising experts from different zones, visit various sections of the Indian Railways network to review on-ground safety measures, share inter-zonal experiences and promote coordinated efforts for smooth and efficient train operations. This collaborative approach ultimately benefits Indian Railways by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring safer journeys for passengers and freight alike.

During the detailed inspection, the audit team examined critical infrastructure including Curve No. 8 between PDT–KTV (km 855.236 to 855), Kottavalasa Station Yard (Points & Crossings), the major bridge between Alamanda–Korukonda (middle line), an engineering-operated level crossing gate between Komatipalli–Donkinavalasa, as well as Bobbili Station and its relay room, Komatipalli Yard, Traction Sub-Station at Komatipalli, Level Crossing Gate RV-323, Coaching Crew Lobby, Accident Relief Medical Equipment Van, Accident Relief Train, New Coaching Complex, Running Room and the Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) Cabin at Visakhapatnam. The audit team comprised senior officials from various departments including Traffic, Engineering, Signal & Telecommunication, Electrical, Mechanical and Safety, along with officers from the Waltair Division.

Shri Lalit Bohra, Divisional Railway Manager Waltair division interacted with the audit team and reviewed the safety observations. He emphasized that such periodical inter-zonal inspections play a vital role in evaluating safety performance, identifying systemic gaps and recommending necessary corrective measures to enhance operational safety.

The findings of the audit will be compiled into detailed reports, followed by action-taken reports to be submitted to the Ministry of Railways. These are subsequently analysed by the Railway Board to formulate directives aimed at further strengthening railway safety across the network.