Prayagraj: Indian Railways has taken a major decision prioritising passenger safety, making it mandatory that no power car, also known as a generator coach, of any train will be allowed to be placed in service unless it undergoes a thorough joint inspection by mechanical and electrical staff and is cleared through a “joint certificate”.The Railway Board issued this strict directive following a report that revealed that in several trains, the advanced Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS), installed at a cost of several lakh rupees, was non-functional and effectively turned into a mere showpiece. During incidents of fire, the automatic system reportedly failed completely, with broken solenoid valves and nitrogen cylinders with gas pressure far below prescribed standards. In many cases, the FDSS was switched off during critical situations. Expressing serious concern over this negligence, the Railway Board fixed accountability of both mechanical and electrical staff and ordered stringent action. Under the revised safety norms, the proper functioning of smoke detectors and temperature sensors installed in the generator coach and guard room was made mandatory. In addition, the main valve seals of nitrogen cylinders must be intact, and gas pressure must be maintained between 150 and 200 kg/cm². Gas pipelines and fittings will also be subjected to physical verification. Railways clearly stated that no power car will be permitted to move beyond a station without complete documentation and a foolproof inspection. A detailed and stringent inspection protocol, now designated as “Proforma A”, was made compulsory. The joint inspection team will first ensure that the main system switch is operational and that the green indicator light is glowing on the control panel. In case of power failure, the condition of backup batteries will also be examined thoroughly.
