Two cases of theft of track cables, signals each month; Central Railway services hit

The thefts lead to signal failures and delays for passengers

At an average rate of two cases of theft of track cables and signals each month, thieves are bringing running trains on the Central Railway section to a grinding halt, leading to delays. The railways has now stepped up security measures to counter such incidents. "There have been 15 cases of thefts between April and November this year. We have stepped up intelligence and security," said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, Central Railway.

Railway officials said that when the cables are gone, the signalling and telecommunication systems of the railway network don't work and trains can't run

Railway officials said that signal and track cable thefts are a global problem, which has caused nearly 22,000 hours of delay for passengers in the past four years. The officials said that when the cables are gone, the signalling and telecommunication systems of the railway network don't work and trains can't run. This is because the network is designed to fail-safe, which means that when a cable is removed, trains come to a halt. This has been done for the safety of passengers and railway staff, but it leads to delays till the location of theft is found and the tracks are fixed.

While miscreants might cut cables for lengths ranging from 100 metres to 150 metres to sell them in the market, railway authorities have to replace the cables for the entire length of the wiring span, which varies from 900 metres to 1.5 km. "The high market value of recycled copper attracts thieves. This calls for stringent measures and more alertness," said a railway official.

Major thefts since April this year

>> April 13: Kasara - A cable was cut and stolen by an unidentified person leading to disruption of rail services
>> July 9: Atgaon - Copper track lead wire was cut and stolen
>> July 12: Wadala - Eight-metre track lead wire and sensors were tampered with
>> December 8: Titwala - Twelve signalling cables were cut and stolen. The incident occurred at Titwala at 2.30 am, leading to three signal failures on both the Up and Down lines

Places of thefts
>>Umbermali, Kasara, Mansarovar, Jasai yard, Khandeshwar, Nagothane, Kaman Road, Bhivpuri Road, Atgaon, Khardi, Thansit, Karjat and Raoli Junction

100-150 mts
Length of cables that thieves usually cut