A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that Indian Railways diverted a substantial sum of approximately ₹3,400 crore from a crucial fund earmarked for train safety. The funds, part of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), were redirected to other areas such as staff welfare, computerisation, railway research, and customer amenities.
The diversion occurred during the period of 2022-23 to 2024-25, impacting safety-related works designed to prevent train collisions, derailments, and improve unmanned level crossings. The CAG report highlighted that this re-allocation of funds went against the RRSK's core objectives and prioritisation framework, thereby reducing the resources available for critical safety upgrades.
Understanding the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK)
The RRSK was established in 2017-18 with an ambitious corpus of ₹1,27,000 crore, intended to fund vital safety projects across Indian Railways until 2024-25. Its introduction marked a significant shift from previous funding mechanisms like the Depreciation Reserve Fund (DRF) and Development Fund (DF), which saw sharp declines in contributions and withdrawals after RRSK's inception.
Impact on Safety Projects and Funding
- Unfinished Works: The report noted that over 20,304 safety-related projects remain unfinished, contributing to significant delays in achieving intended safety outcomes.
- Financial Liability: A substantial throw-forward liability of ₹2,29,354 crore exists for ongoing RRSK-funded works, indicating long-term financial commitments.
- Internal Resource Shortfall: Indian Railways contributed only ₹5,324.62 crore from its internal resources during the first five years of RRSK, significantly short of the envisaged ₹25,000 crore. This represents just 21.30% of the targeted contribution, hindering the fund's overall growth.
The auditor also pointed out instances of incorrect booking, misclassification of expenditure, and wrong crediting of funds, further underscoring the need for stricter financial oversight within the RRSK framework. The diversion of dedicated safety funds from their primary purpose raises concerns about the pace and effectiveness of crucial safety enhancements across the vast Indian railway network.