The much-awaited launch of the indigenously-built Trainset, the Train-18, is stuck due to a bitter departmental fight within the Railways. It is still to get the full Boards green signal – a must for flagging off any new train.
The fight between two traditional rivals – the electrical and mechanical wings of the Railways – is so intense that, despite a conditional clearance from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) on December 21, the Board is again planning to send it back to to the CCRS to resolve the contentious issue of Electrical Inspector General (EIG) safety certificate.
While the mechanical department, which is at the forefront of manufacturing the Rs 100 crore Trainset, has maintained that an EIG certificate is not required as per the law, the electrical department is refusing to come on board without it.
Despite the crucial fact that the first semi-high-speed train is expected to be flagged off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its maiden run to Varanasi, the issue could not be resolved as both sides stuck to their stands at the Railway Board meeting on January 8
