Lok Sabha Question No. 5249 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Avoiding Rail Derailment
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL, RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5249 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## AVOIDING RAIL DERAILMENT

5249.DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  precautionary  steps  Government  is  taking  to  ensure  that incidents such as derailment do not take place in future;
- (b) the yearly allocation of funds in the last three years, dedicated especially for the repair and maintenance of railway tracks;
- (c) whether  Government  is  planning  to  increase  these  funds  for better maintenance of railway tracks; and
- (d) 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. 5249  BY DR. SANJAY JAISWAL AND SHRI RAVINDRA  KUMAR  PANDEY  TO  BE    ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 05.04.2017 REGARDING AVOIDING RAIL DERAILMENT

(a):   Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways  and all possible  steps  are  undertaken  on  a  continual  basis  including        upgradation  of  technology  to  aid  safe  running  of  trains.  These  include replacement of over-aged assets, elimination of unmanned level crossings, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular  intervals  to  monitor  and  educate  staff  for  observance  of  safe practices.  Safety  devices/systems  used  to  prevent  accidents  include complete  track  circuiting,  provision  of  Block  Proving  Axle  Counters (BPAC),  Train  Protection  Warning  Systems  (TPWS),  Colour  Light  LED Signals, Vigilance Control Device (VCD), usage of     60 kg rails and Prestressed Concrete Sleepers, long rail panels, better welding technology, digital types of machines for ultrasonic flaw detection (USFD), electronic monitoring  of  tracks  using  track  recording  cars  (TRC)  and  portable oscillation monitoring system (OMS), progressive use of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Coaches, Centre Buffer Coupler with Integral Coach Factory (ICF)  Coaches,  etc.  Other  measures  include  training  of  loco  pilots  and other  safety  category  staff,  improvement  of  their  working  conditions including  proper  rest  and  periodic  medical  examinations  etc.  Besides, periodic safety drives, inspections as per laid down schedules, patrolling of tracks, footplate inspections and safety reviews at various levels are regularly conducted to continuously monitor and improve safety aspects of the Railways.

(b)  to  (d):  Budget  allotted  under  Minor-Heads  related  to    repairs  and maintenance of railway tracks covered under Repairs and Maintenance of  Permanent Way & Works in the last three years is as under:-

(Gross ` in Crore)

| Minor -heads                                                                           |   Revised Estimate 2013-14 |   Revised Estimate 2014-15 |   Revised Estimate 2015-16 |   Revised Estimate 2016-17 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Establishment in Offices                                                               |                     918.18 |                    1051.08 |                    1092.86 |                    1417.57 |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way                                                           |                    6207.58 |                    7017.73 |                    7322.19 |                    9068.87 |
| Maintenance of work and Tunnels including Road over/under bridges                      |                     304.41 |                     349.6  |                     358.39 |                     456.83 |
| Special repairs pertaining to Breaches, Accidents etc. including special Revenue Works |                     107.29 |                     130.69 |                     153.94 |                     148.93 |
| Total                                                                                  |                    7537.46 |                    8549.1  |                    8927.38 |                   11092.2  |

This being a safety item, it is the endeavour of Ministry of Railways to provide sufficient allocation which is being increased progressively year after year.

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