Railways will carry out a safety audit of its rolling stock like coaches and other movable assets and track infrastructure to prevent mishaps and loss of lives. Addressing the two-day conference of General Managers of all-Zonal Railways in New Delhi, Railway Minister Mukul Roy said a multi-functional team of senior officials would be constituted to undertake the audit and submit a report within three months in this regard.

Roy said accidents at unmanned level crossings remained an area of concern and all road safety works would be personally monitored by the general managers and completed on priority. He said that zonal railways should also launch publicity drives to educate the road users for taking precautions while negotiating the level crossings. Talking about security threats in trains and railway premises, the minister said all necessary steps including coordination with the state governments, completion of sanctioned works related to integrated security system need to be taken on priority basis.

Speaking on this occassion, Minister of State for Railway KH Muniyappa said the 12th Five Year Plan was going to provide a great opportunity to the Indian Railways to meet infrastructure challenges and to become the engine of growth for the country.

Minister of State for Railways Bharatsinh Solanki stressed the need for taking measures to ensure that no cases of thefts take place in trains.