Panel for CRS to become autonomous body

A parliamentary committee has blamed both Railway and Civil Aviation ministries for not taking steps for effective working of Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) and suggested enactment of a law to make it an empowered autonomous body.
CRS, under the administrative control of Civil Aviation Ministry, investigates rail accidents.
In its latest report, the Standing Committee on Transport held both the ministries responsible for the present poor state of affairs of CRS.
The committee suggested restructuring of CRS on priority and greater coordination between the two ministries to address the shortcomings of the existing system.
The 31-member panel headed by CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury has advised Railways to be careful in dealing with CRS so that its efficiency is not jeopardized.

The committee has recommended for having a separate legislation for creating an empowered autonomous body as CRS could prove to be an effective solution to address shortcomings in it.

However, the panel has observed that Railways was not in favour of a separate legislation although Civil Aviation Ministry did not express any reservation about this.
The committee emphasised upon the need to draw up clear demarcation of functioning of Railway and Civil Aviation ministries in the working of CRS.
The committee noted that both the ministries are not able to arrive at a consensus on the issues of rules making and fixing of minimum requirements.

The committee has recommended that the matter may be placed before the Cabinet Secretary to take a view on the matter.
While recommending increase in the number of CRS, the committee sought that the difficulties faced by CRS in conducting accident investigation should be adequately addressed by both the ministries.
The committee said it found that Civil Aviation Ministry puts directly or indirectly blame for all the ills in CRS on Railway Ministry, though it is of the view that restructuring and expansion of CRS is their responsibility.