New Delhi — The Railway Board has taken a serious note of several railway zones failing to conduct the two mandatory inter-railway safety audits required each year, issuing directives to ensure compliance and improve operational safety across the Indian Railways network. A circular issued on November 26, 2025, addressed to the General Managers of all 18 railway zones, underscored the importance of these audits and stressed accountability for any lapses.

The circular explicitly noted that the failure to conduct the required safety inspections is being viewed “seriously by the Board.” It instructs zonal railways that have not conducted their audits to submit previous audit reports along with action taken reports, and, if audits were not carried out, to provide reasons for the lapse. The directive reflects the Railway Board’s growing concern over safety management and the need to maintain consistent operational oversight.

To facilitate planning for 2026, the circular also outlined the schedule and nominations for Inter-Railway Safety Audit Inspections. For example, the Central Railway zone is slated to conduct audits of the West Central Railway in January-February 2026 and again in July-August 2026, while the Eastern Railway will audit East Central Railwayin March-April 2026 and September-October 2026. The circular stressed that previous audits and pending action reports should preferably be submitted before the inspections are carried out, ensuring continuity and learning from earlier assessments.

The Board emphasised that audits must focus on procedural lapses rather than general inspection, highlighting the objective of these exercises: to identify potential hazards, threats, and risks in railway operations before they escalate into accidents or disruptions. The inter-railway safety audit is a biannual initiative where senior officers from one railway zone conduct a thorough safety assessment of another zone’s operations, creating a system of peer review that strengthens accountability.

The circular outlined the composition of the multi-disciplinary inspection teams, which must include SAG-level officers from operating, mechanical, civil, electrical, and signalling departments, with the Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO) acting as the convenor, irrespective of their departmental affiliation. The directive makes it clear that there should be no exceptions to this structure, underlining the seriousness of the Board in ensuring the integrity and quality of audits.

The responsibilities of the Safety Team are detailed in the circular. The convenor is tasked with organising the inspection schedule, while other members are required to adhere strictly to it. Any abnormalities or system deficiencies observed during the inspections are to be reported to the General Manager of the railway under review and uploaded into the Safety Audit Module of the Safety Information Management System within a week. Once the inspecting railway is satisfied with the corrective actions, the compliance report is to be uploaded, preferably within 30 days of the audit.

By issuing this circular, the Railway Board is seeking to reinforce a culture of proactive safety management, ensuring that audits are not treated as routine formalities but as critical tools to preempt accidents. In recent years, Indian Railways has faced scrutiny over operational safety, particularly in light of high-profile incidents. The Board’s renewed focus on inter-railway audits underscores its commitment to strengthening institutional safety mechanisms and preventing systemic lapses.

The inter-railway audit mechanism also serves to cross-pollinate best practices across zones. Senior officers from one zone gain exposure to operational methods in another, enabling the adoption of effective safety practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. By focusing on procedural gaps rather than surface-level inspections, these audits aim to mitigate risks in signalling, mechanical maintenance, operations, and civil infrastructure.

The Board’s insistence on SAG-level participation highlights the strategic importance of these audits. Senior officers, with their experience and authority, are better positioned to identify systemic weaknesses and ensure that corrective measures are implemented effectively. The involvement of multiple departments ensures that safety is approached holistically, encompassing technical, operational, and administrative dimensions.

While the circular primarily addresses procedural compliance, it also implicitly acknowledges gaps in the current audit practices. By mandating that previous audit reports and action-taken reports be submitted before new inspections, the Board is attempting to close the loop on follow-up actions, ensuring that lessons learned from earlier audits translate into tangible improvements on the ground.

Railway zones that have fallen short of the biannual audit requirement are now under scrutiny, and their responses will be critical in determining the Board’s next steps. The directive underscores that non-compliance is unacceptable, signaling a more assertive stance from the central authorities in enforcing operational safety norms.

The Board’s instructions also reinforce the importance of timely reporting. By requiring inspection findings to be uploaded within a week and compliance verification within 30 days, the circular ensures that the audit process remains dynamic and responsive, rather than stagnant. This emphasis on timely documentation reflects an understanding that safety improvements are only meaningful if quickly implemented and tracked.

In conclusion, the Railway Board’s circular serves as a wake-up call for all zonal railways. By flagging failures to conduct mandatory safety audits, the Board is highlighting the critical link between audit compliance and operational safety. The structured approach to inter-railway audits, the clear assignment of responsibilities, and the focus on procedural lapses collectively aim to strengthen the overall safety culture within Indian Railways.

The move is part of a broader strategy to institutionalise safety practices, integrate modern audit methodologies, and ensure that all railway zones adhere to a uniform standard of vigilance. As India’s railway network continues to expand and modernise, these measures are expected to play a key role in preventing accidents, safeguarding passengers, and ensuring operational efficiency.

By mandating structured audits, enforcing accountability, and emphasising the importance of cross-zone inspections, the Railway Board is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and safer railway system, where potential risks are identified and addressed systematically, and best practices are shared across the network.

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