New Delhi: Taking a serious view of reports of the delay in taking injured persons from rail tracks to hospitals, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday directed the Railway Board to put in place a system for quick evacuation.
He also took initiatives for generating additional revenue for the ailing public transporter.
Instructions have been issued to formulate a framework for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding quick evacuation of the injured persons from the railway tracks so that human lives are saved, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Prabhu has taken serious note of media reports that there have been instances of delay in evacuation of injured persons from rail tracks because of lack of jurisdictional clarity and other issues, often resulting in fatalities.
"Hence, this issue needs to be examined and SOP is to be prepared," said the official, adding "The Minister wants to ensure compliance of SOPs by all concerned."
According to the instruction, the exercise is to be completed by December 31, 2014.
With a view to generating additional revenue, Prabhu has directed RITES, a PSU of Railway Ministry, to study and prepare a concept note on ways and means for leveraging of space in coaches, wagons, trains, railway stations for advertisements, publicity and other purposes.
The Minister has desired that the concept note may be prepared at the earliest, preferably by December 10, this year, said the official.
