New Delhi: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has directed the Railway Board to divert rails marked for construction of new lines to stretches prone to accidents and where replacement was due.

 He also directed the board officials to accelerate procurement of new rails to complete laying of tracks in pending projects and eliminate unmanned level crossings within a year.  

Chairing a meeting with top Railway Board officials, the minister asked them to take up track replacement and renewal on a priority. “The procurement of new rails should be expedited on a large scale with a view to completing construction of new lines in time,” the minister was quoted as having told the officials.  

Goyal also instructed the board to install anti-fog LED lights in locomotives to ensure unhindered and safe train operations during winter.  

Goyal, who assumed office after the exit of his prececessor Suresh Prabhu following a string derailments, also said the process of replacing old coaches with modern LBH bogies should be speeded up. The Minister emphasised that safety is paramount and there cannot and should not be any compromise on this front.