Lok Sabha Question No. 719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Train Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 719 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS

719.      SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  a  decline  in  the  number  of  train accidents over the last three years after the Railways took a series of measures to improve safety;
- (b) if so, the details of the accidents that took place during 201415, 2015-16 and 2016-17;
- (c) whether the safety measures including speedy track renewal ultrasonic rail detection system, elimination of several unmanned  level  crossings  are  proposed  to  be  taken  on priority  basis and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether a special safety fund along with sophisticated LHB coaches with anti-climbing features have additionally helped in making train travel safe and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 719 BY SHRI G. HARI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2018 REGARDING TRAIN ACCIDENTS (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  During  the  last  three  years,  the  number  of consequential  train  accidents  (including  accidents  at  Unmanned Level  Crossings  mainly  caused  due  to  negligence  of  road  vehicle users) have decreased from 135 in 2014-15, to 107 in 2015-16 and further  to  104  in  2016-17.    In  the  current  year  (upto  31 st   January, 2018) the number of consequential train accidents have reduced to 65 as compared to 95 in the corresponding period of the previous year.

(c):  Railway  tracks  are  replaced  through  track  renewal  works, which is an ongoing process. Track renewal works are undertaken as  and  when  a  stretch  of  track  becomes  due  for  renewal  on  the basis of criteria laid down in Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual on  age/condition  basis.  The  Track  renewal  works  are  planned  in advance every year and their execution are prioritized according to the condition of track and other factors ensuring all the time that track is in sound condition for running of trains. For the year 201718, 3600km in Complete Track Renewal (CTR) Units target has been kept for track renewal. In view of the shortfall in production of rails by  SAIL  vis-à-vis  requirement  for  2017-18,  it  has  been  decided  by Ministry  of  Railways  in  September,  2017  to  give  priority  for  giving rails  for  track  renewal  purpose  to  replace  old  rails  vis-à-vis  new construction projects.

Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) of rails and welds is carried out at predefined periodicity to detect internal flaws in rails/welds.

A decision has been taken to eliminate 4267 unmanned level crossings in the Broad Gauge network in the next two years. It is the endeavour of Railways to eliminate all unmanned level crossings in a phased manner by either of the following:-

Closure - Closing unmanned level crossings having NIL/ Negligible Train Vehicle Unit (TVU).

Merger  -  Merger  of  unmanned  level  crossing  gate  to  nearby manned  or  unmanned  gates  or  subway  or  Road  Under  Bridge (RUB)  or  Road  Over  Bridge  (ROB)  by  construction  of  diversion road.

Provision of Subways/ RUBS

Manning -The unmanned  level crossings which cannot be eliminated by above means, will be progressively manned based on rail- road traffic volume, visibility conditions.

(d): A fund namely 'Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh' (RRSK) has been created with a corpus of ₹ 1 Lakh crore over a period of 5 years for critical  safety  related  works.  Accordingly,  a  provision  of ₹ 20,000 crore has been made in budget estimates 2017-18 out of 'Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh'  to fund essential works for ensuring safety.

The  funds  under    'Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh'  shall  be deployed  to  finance  works  under  Plan  heads  Rolling  Stock,  Level Crossing,  ROB/RUB,  Track  Renewal,  Bridge  Works,  Signal  and Telecommunication  Works,  other  Electrical  Works,  TRD  Works,

Machinery and Plant, Workshop and Training/HRD. The passenger coaches plying over Indian Railways (IR) have been designed with the necessary safety features considering the operating  conditions  over  IR.  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  design coaches are of a superior design and have safety features like anticlimbing  etc.  in  unfortunate  event  of  an  accident.  It  has  been decided that only LHB coaches would be manufactured from April, 2018 onwards.

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