Lok Sabha Question No. 1996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Railway Security System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1996 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## RAILWAY SECURITY SYSTEM

## 1996.      SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Indian Railways safety system is not up to the mark;
- (b) if so, the number of train accidents that have happened only due to failure of signal and technical faults;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that due to shortage of manpower, Railways  channels  are  not  working  properly  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to generate the new security system in Railways and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1996 BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.03.2018  REGARDING  RAILWAY SECURITY SYSTEM

(a)  &  (b):  No,  Madam.  Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety because of which 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  28 th February,  2018)  the  number  of consequential train accidents have further reduced to 70 as compared to 99 in the corresponding period of the previous year.

(c): No, Madam.  Sanctioned posts in safety category are more than operational requirement as it contains element of leave reserve and rest givers also.

(d) & (e): Prevention and detection of crime related to passengers, registration  of  such  cases,  their  investigation  and  maintenance  of law and order in railway premises as well as on running trains are the  statutory  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments.  For  this purpose, a separate wing of State Police in the name of 'Government  Railway  Police'  (GRP)  functions  in  respective  States. Ministry of Railways are supplementing efforts of States in providing security over railways through the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Security  has  been  identified  as  one  of  the  priority  areas  by

Railways  for  strengthening  and  upgradation.  Measures  initiated  in recent  past  to  strengthen  security  over  Indian  Railways  include stations/trains, operationalisation  of  security  helpline  182,  and  development  of installation of CCTV cameras at railway security App etc. Operational  measures  to  strengthen  security  of  passengers include escorting of about 4500 important mail/Express trains daily by RPF/GRP, access control at important railway stations, prosecution  of  offenders  for  unauthorized  vending/hawking,  entry into ladies and reserved compartments, touting of tickets, trespassing, roof travelling, alarm chain pulling etc. under relevant provisions  of  the  Railways  Act.,  detection  of  passenger  related crime, arrest of criminals and handing over to GRP for further legal action. Close coordination and liaison is maintained by the RPF with GRPs  to  strengthen  security  over  railways.  State  Level  Security Committee for Railways (SLSCR) have also been constituted for all State/UTs under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/UTs for regular monitoring and review of security arrangement for the Railways.

*****