Team Herald
MARGAO: In response to the recent derailment of 17 wagons of a goods train in Goa, the NGO Goencho Ekvott (GE), which has been actively opposing the double tracking project of the South Western Railway (SWR), has called for a safety audit of the railway tracks in the region. The accident, which occurred in a ghat section, has intensified the group's concerns over the safety and environmental implications of railway operations in Goa.
GE Founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues has pointed to video evidence that suggests the derailed wagons were overloaded with coal, raising the possibility that this overloading may have contributed to the derailment. "Could this overloading be the cause of the derailment?" Rodrigues asked.
Rodrigues emphasised that Goencho Ekvott has repeatedly informed local and railway authorities about the dangers posed by overloaded wagons, which contribute to extensive pollution of the ground, air, and water along the railway tracks. He noted that coal spills along the tracks pose a threat to the local ecosystem, particularly to underground water sources.
The recent derailment has heightened concerns about the overall safety of railway operations in the region. Rodrigues pointed out that the accident occurred in a ghat section where train speeds are typically capped at 40 kmph. This contrasts sharply with recent announcements by SWR officials regarding speed tests reaching up to 120 kmph on the Vasco da Gama to Curchorem track. Rodrigues questioned the feasibility of such speeds, especially in densely populated areas where residences are located just meters away from the tracks.
"How can the railways guarantee the safety of villagers in thickly populated areas like Dabolim, Sancoale, Issorcim, Mollo, Pale, Velsao, Cansaulim, and others?" Rodrigues asked, highlighting the vulnerability of these communities to accidents, particularly if a train derails while traveling at high speeds.