Lok Sabha Question No. 4272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-21
Subject: Safety Measures
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4272 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2018

## SAFETY MEASURES

4272.   SHRI OM BIRLA :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) the budgetary allocations made  and the expenditure incurred therefrom for safety measures in the Railways during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (b) the details of the recommendations of the Kakodkar Committee in this regard  which  have  been  implemented  and  also  those  which  have  not been implemented along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps for the upgradation or complete overhaul of coaches used by the Indian Railways to bring them inline with current requirements and standards of safety while providing world class facilities to the passengers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps to upgrade the safety, security  and  goods  carrying  capacity  of  carriage  wagons  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## 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.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4272 BY SHRI OM BIRLA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.03.2018 REGARDING SAFETY MEASURES

## (a)  :  The  outlay  made  and  expenditure  incurred  on  safety  related activities during the last three years and the current year is as under -

( ₹in cr)

|         | Revised Estimates   | Actual Expenditure     |
|---------|---------------------|------------------------|
| 2014-15 | 44842               | 43113                  |
| 2015-16 | 46048               | 45516                  |
| 2016-17 | 63062               | 53456                  |
| 2017-18 | 68725               | 51973                  |
|         |                     | (upto end of Feb.2018) |

(b) : A High Level Safety Review Committee (Kakodkar Committee) was constituted by the Ministry of Railways which has made 106 recommendations on various technical and technology related aspects in connection with safe running of train services. Of these, 97 recommendations have been fully / partially accepted, and 9 recommendations are not accepted by the Ministry of Railways. Of  the accepted recommendations, 65 have been implemented. The remaining recommendations are at various stages of implementation.  The process of implementation of some of the recommendations is a continuous and / or  long  drawn  out  process  requiring  test  and  trails,  identification  and introduction of new and suitable technologies, consultation with outside agencies etc. and as such require larger duration of time for their final implementation.

(c) & (d) :  The improvement of passenger facilities and safety in trains is a continual process.  In this regard, Ministry of Railways has taken

several steps to improve travel experience of passengers and safety in train services across the country.  Some of the steps taken are as under -

Proliferation  of  LHB  Coaches  -  A  policy  decision  has  been  taken  to manufacture only Linke Hoffman Busche (LHB) type coaches from 201819  onwards.    LHB  coaches  have  better  technology  and  are  of  superior design as compared to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches.

Provision of Fire Extinguishers -Dry chemical powder type fire extinguishers are being provided in all main line trains.

Automatic Fire & Smoke Detection System in AC Coaches - Instructions have  been  issued  to  Production  Units  that  all  newly  manufactured  AC coaches  shall  be  provided  with  Automatic  Fire  &  Smoke  Detection System.    For  existing  coaches,  sanction  exists  for  the  provision  of automatic  fire  &  smoke  detection  system  in  3250  coaches.    Works  is being carried out in a phased manner.

Fire  Suppression  System  in  Pantry  Cars  and  Power  Cars  -  Instructions have  been  issued  that  this  system  should  be  provided  in  all  newly manufactured  LHB  power  cars  and  LHB  pantry  cars  by  the  Production Units.  Sanction is available for provision of automatic fire detection and suppression system in existing 150 LHB pantry cars and 225 LHB power cars.  The work of retro fitment is being carried out progressively.

Improving Fire Retardancy in Coaches - Coaches are being provided with fire retardant furnishing materials such  as fire retardant curtains, partition  panelling,  roof  ceiling,  flooring,  seat  and  berths  along  with cushioning  material  and  seat  covers,  windows  and  UIC  vestibules  etc. The specifications of these items are being upgraded from time to time as  a  part  of  continual  improvement.    In  the  specification  of  major furnishing items, now a new parameter related to fire retardancy (i.e.

heat release rate) has been introduced as per international norms.

Provision  of  Double  Acting  Doors  in  Coaches  -  Double  acting  doors  in coaches are two-way swing AC compartment doors for easy evacuation of passengers. Such doors need to be provided in the AC coaches so as to improve  the fire worthiness and enable passengers  to quickly evacuate  from  the  coach  in  the  event  of  fire.  Sanction  under  Rolling Stock Programme (RSP) exists for the provision of double acting doors in 3500  coaches  and  the  work  is  being  carried  out  in  a  phased  manner. Also,  instructions  have  been  issued  to  Production  Units  that  all  newly manufactured AC coaches shall be provided with double acting doors.

- (e) : Improvements in freight rolling stock design is a continuous activity where  measures  for  upgrading  the  safety,  security  and  goods  carrying capacity  of  carriage  wagons  are  being  taken  as  a  continuous  process. For improving the through put, some of the recent measures taken are as below-
- (i)  Design  development  and  procurement  of  25  tonne  axle  load  BOXNS wagon which has given satisfactory riding performance upto 100 kmph in loaded condition in Indian Railways.
- (ii) Design of new low weight low height bogies for use on new 25 tonne axle load wagons and development of higher capacity couplers & draft gears.
- (iii) Retrofitment of bogie mounted brake system, twin pipe brake system, rehabilitation of BOXN and BOBRN wagons etc.

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