As casualties in the Gorakhdham Express train accident grow, safety is expected to be key priority for former Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, who is set to take charge as the Railway Minister.

In the train accident, 25 people have lost their lives till now, 14 are grievously injured and 36 have simple injuries, Alok Singh, CPRO, North Eastern Railway, told Business Line . Rescue operations are still on, Singh added.

But, Gowda would have to ensure fund availability for upgrading the safety systems. Putting in place upgraded systems will cost a lot of money: almost Rs one lakh crore, according to estimates of high-level safety review committee headed by Anil Kakodkar, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, which also had E. Sreedharan of Delhi Metro as Adviser.

The Kakodkar Committee, in 2012, had suggested imposition of a safety cess on rail tariffs as a means to raise funds for improving railway safety.

This is on the lines of safety surcharge of Re 1-100 levied on rail fares during the BJP-led NDA regime under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

>mamuni.das@thehindu.co.in

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