Railway Board Cracks Down on Safety Lapses: Zones Must Conduct Regular Audits

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In a move to strengthen safety standards, the Railway Board has issued a directive to all 18 railway zones to conduct two mandatory inter-railway inspections of operational safety within a year. The Board has expressed concern over some zones failing to meet this requirement, and has asked them to provide previous audit reports or explain the reasons for non-compliance. The directive, issued on November 26, 2025, also outlines the schedule and nominations for the Inter Railway Safety Audit Inspections in 2026. For example, the Central Zone will conduct inspections of the West Central Zone in January-February and July-August 2026, while the Eastern Zone will audit the East Central Zone in March-April and September-October 2026. The Board has advised the zonal railways to focus on procedural lapses rather than general inspections, and to ensure that the multi-disciplinary Inter-Railway Safety Teams consist of senior officers from various departments. The convenor of the Safety Team will be responsible for organizing the inspection schedule and submitting a report of abnormalities and system deficiencies to the General Manager of the Zonal Railway under inspection. The Railway Board aims to improve safety standards by identifying and fixing potential hazards, threats, and risks through the Inter-Railway Safety Audit. The compliance report will be uploaded by the Inspecting Railway within 30 days from the date of audit. The Railway Board's move is a step towards ensuring the safety of passengers and staff, and maintaining the highest standards of operational safety in the Indian Railways.