Revamping Safety: India's Railways' Response to the New Delhi Stampede

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reassures fair investigations into last month's New Delhi railway station stampede. Steps include complete access control, wider foot-over bridges, and new-generation communication technologies. Allegations of CCTV malfunctions were dismissed, with projects to enhance security rolled out in select stations as preventive measures.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway concerning last month's stampede at New Delhi railway station. The tragic incident resulted in 18 fatalities, and the government is keen on taking robust measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Dismissing claims from RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha that CCTV cameras were turned off to obscure the incident's details, Vaishnaw insisted that he had personally reviewed the footage. In response to the controversy, several opposition members, including Congress and TMC representatives, walked out of the session.

To enhance safety, the minister announced that 60 railway stations will soon implement complete access control, only permitting travelers with confirmed tickets entry. Furthermore, Vaishnaw outlined plans for new foot-over bridges and a pool of 80 trains to manage passenger surge, while inviting cooperation from opposition members.

(With inputs from agencies.)