Safety Derailment: Mancheswar Workshop's Use of Second-Hand Parts in Rail Coach Overhaul

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has criticized the Carriage Repair Workshop in Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar, for using second-hand parts in railway coaches, violating safety and overhaul norms. The workshop, operating since 1981 under the East Coast Railway zone, reportedly used these parts amid faulty procurement processes and inaccurate data maintenance.

According to the committee, during the review from 2020 to 2023, 131 of 3,402 overhauled coaches failed within 100 days. In 19 instances, second-hand mechanical items replaced must-change parts, endangering passenger safety. Application of realistic projections for periodic overhauls and improved resource management were recommended to rectify these issues.

Furthermore, the committee highlighted the non-reporting of coach failures by depots and idle machinery due to oversight in CAG findings. They recommend eliminating second-hand replacements, introducing third-party assessments, and ensuring machinery procurement meets specifications. Strengthening POH coach monitoring is also advised to optimize operations and improve safety standards.