Stray cattle on railway tracks have become a serious problem for Indian Railways. Over the last four years, about 1 lakh animal collision cases were reported, which led to more than 1.25 lakh trains running late. These incidents cause a chain reaction of delays and waste valuable track time across the country.
How many trains were delayed and how many accidents happened
Data from the last four years shows a consistent pattern of animal collisions and resulting delays. The impact is seen across various years as follows:
| Year | Incidents | Trains Delayed |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 27,000 | 37,000 |
| 2020-21 | 20,000 | 23,000 |
| 2021-22 | 29,000 | 36,000 |
| 2022-23 | 26,000 | 36,000 |
What is the financial loss per minute of delay
Every minute a train stands still or slows down due to cattle on the track, the railway loses a significant amount of money. The loss varies depending on the type of train and the engine used.
- Electric Passenger train: ₹20,459 per minute
- Diesel Passenger train: ₹20,401 per minute
- Electric Goods train: ₹13,392 per minute
- Diesel Goods train: ₹13,334 per minute
What steps is Indian Railways taking to stop this
To reduce these accidents, the Ministry of Railways is implementing several safety measures. This includes installing track fencing and animal detection systems at vulnerable locations. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned that cleaning garbage and vegetation along tracks helps prevent animals from gathering. The RPF also takes action against cattle owners under the Railway Act, 1989, and carries out public awareness campaigns to sensitize villagers.