Lok Sabha Question No. 1232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Safety of Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## SAFETY OF PASSENGERS

1232. ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether passenger safety during travel by train is a major concern for the Government;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  monitoring  devise  to  ensure  safety  of passengers;
- (c) whether the Government reviews the safety of passengers from time to time and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  intends  to  streamline  the  existing  safety measures 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.  1232  BY  ADV.  NARENDRA  KESHAV  SAWAIKAR  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  23.11.2016  REGARDING  SAFETY  OF PASSENGERS.

(a) and (b): Policing on Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of 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,  which  they  discharge  through Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP  by  deploying  its staff for escorting of important trains in affected areas and access control duties at important and sensitive stations.

Besides,  the  following  steps  are  also  being  taken  by  the  Railways  to provide security:

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/  sections,  2500  trains  (on  an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily, in addition to 2200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
2. Surveillance  is  kept  through  CCTV  cameras,  provided  at  about  344 stations  over  Indian  Railways,  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of passengers.
3. Security  Help  Line  number  182  is  made  operational  over  Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
4. An Integrated Security System consisting of surveillance of vulnerable stations  through  Close  Circuit  Television  Camera  Network,  Access Control etc. has been sanctioned to improve surveillance mechanism over 202 railway stations.
5. CCTV cameras have been installed on a limited number of coaches of passengers  and  suburban  trains  for  surveillance  on  a  pilot  basis. Sanction  for  provision  of  CCTV  cameras  in  500  coaches  has  been obtained  under  Rolling  Stock  Programme  2015-16.  Work  has  already been  completed  in  about  25  passenger  coaches  and  32  suburban coaches.

6. Sniffer  Dog  Squads  are  utilized  at  some  important  stations  for  antisabotage checks.
7. Joint drives by Commercial Department and RPF are conducted from time  to  time  against  the  entry  of  unauthorized  persons  in  trains  and railway premises.
8. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address system to educate  passengers  to  take  precautions  against  theft,  snatching, drugging etc.
9. Close liaison is made by RPF with the State Police/ GRP authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in Railway premises as well as on running trains.

(c) and (d):  Regular coordination meetings are held by RPF with the State Police/ GRP authorities to review and streamline the measures taken for the  safety  and  security  of  passengers.  Analysis  of  passengers  related crime  is  done  to  identify  affected  trains,  stations  and  sections  and accordingly  security  arrangements  are  made  in  close  coordination  with GRP for safety and security of passengers over Indian Railways.

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