CRS probe report to take 80 days

Mumbai: There are no immediate suspensions or attempts to place accountability for Friday’s local train derailment as the matter has now been handed over to the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), who will take at least 80 days to come out with the report.

The delay is just another example of the red tape in government bodies while dealing with such cases, according to railway activist Nirmal Takemgarh. “The issue has brought to light that there was a problem on the track, particularly the crossing point, for which the railways is responsible.

The railway ministry should have taken action and held the engineer in charge of that section responsible for the accident,” he claimed.  He further added, “In fact, the officials at the top, right up to the general manager, should be held responsible.”

But sources within the railways say that this accountability will be hard to fix.

An official said, “We, in the railways, have developed a lot of ways to literally get away with murder. In this case, if the CRS does not assign accountability, the matter will be shut forever and the negligence will be brushed under the carpet.” He further added, “The CRS is supposed to give a report in 80 days, but it is not final. The actual report could take even a year. There is really no one to question the railways because everyone has blood on their hands.”

On whether any action will be taken against any officers, Western Railway (WR) divisional manager Mukul Jain said, “We have to wait for the CRS inquiry to come to a conclusion.”