CAG finds bullet train already running in Uttar Pradesh

An express train managed to ‘touch’ an incredible 409 kmph, covering a distance of 116 km between Allahabad and Fatehpur in 17 minutes. At least on paper. These and other clearly incorrect data were detected in a recent audit of the Indian Railways by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

While auditing data entry of Prayag Raj Express, Jaipur- Allahabad Express and New Delhi-Allahabad Duronto Express, CAG found major discrepancies which, according to the report, raise a big question mark on the integrity of data maintained by the railways. Incorrect entries were fed into Integrated Coaching Management System (ICMS), which is responsible for monitoring the punctuality and real-time data of train operations. This data is also reflected in National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and incorrect entries cause inconvenience to passengers by showing wrong timings of trains at Allahabad station.

CAG, in its audit report, said, “During 2016-17, the three trains operated on 354, 343 and 144 days respectively, out of which they took less than 53 minutes (on 25, 29 and 31 days respectively) to travel a distance of 116 km between Fatehpur and Allahabad.”


According to the railways, to cover the distance between Fatehpur and Allahabad Junction, maximum permissible speed for trains is 130 kmph and at least 53 minutes. But CAG found that, “On July 9, 2016, Allahabad Duronto Express reached Fatehpur at 5:53am and Allahabad at 6:10am, which suggested that the train travelled 116km in 17 minutes, at a speed of 409 kmph.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior railway official said, “The mistakes highlighted by CAG were human errors and precautions were taken to ensure no further discrepancies are there in data entry of timing.”