Govt to set up Independent Railway Safety Panel

NEW DELHI: Vowing to give highest priority to safety, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi today announced the setting up of an Independent Railway Safety Authority with a statutory status. ‘’The Authority will be set up in line with the recommendation of the Special Committee on safety, headed by Anil Kakodkar,’’ Trivedi said presenting the Railway Budget for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha. He said the Authority will have statutory status. The Kakodkar Committee had, on February 17, presented a Rs 1 Lakh crore safety plan to the Railway Ministry to be implemented in next fi ve years. The Minister said the safety standards he wishes to achieve would be world class. Earlier, he began his Budget speech by complimenting the railway employees for their hard work reading a couplet: ‘’Ab tak ki kamyabiayan tumhare nam karta hoon, har ek ki lagan to salam karta hoon(I credit to you all the success achieved so far, I salute your devotion and enthusiasm)’’. Trivedi said he would strive to achieve inclusive growth in the expansion of railway facilities.