New Delhi, Aug 19: As part of efforts to improve safety standards, the railways ministry today directed its zonal branches to procure safety-related materials only from firms approved by the research designs and standards organisation. The move is expected to "avoid asset failures" also, an official release said here.

In a circular to all the zonal railway general managers, the government said performance of the approved sources would be monitored periodically and approval would be given for a limited period, it said.

Bureau Report