Lok Sabha Question No. 256 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Facilities at Adarsh Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.256 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2017

## FACILITIES AT ADARSH STATIONS

*256. SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether an audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found deficiencies/defects in passenger facilities at most of the "Adarsh" railway stations;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard;
- (c)  whether  pay-and-use  toilets  and  x-ray  scanners  have  been established at all the stations; if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  facilities  for  the  physically  challenged  passengers have been adequately provided and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of mechanism that has been put in place to monitor cleanliness, etc. at these stations?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

- (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 STARRED QUESTION NO.256 BY SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2017 REGARDING FACILITIES AT ADARSH STATIONS

(a) to (e): Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)'s Report No.13 of 2016 (Railways) has mentioned about the deficiencies in few passenger amenities  viz. Pay and Use toilets, Signages, Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing facilities for Upper Classes/other classes at some  stations developed as Adarsh Stations.

The norms for provision of amenities under 'Adarsh' Station Scheme were  first  introduced  in  2009  which  were  later  revised  in  August,  2013. The comparison of amenities to be provided as per norms of 2009 vis-à-vis norms of 2013, is tabulated below.

|   S.No. | Amenities                                                      | As per norms of 2009                   | As per norms of 2013                                        |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Pay & Use Toilets                                              | To be provided at 'A1' to 'E' category | To be provided at 'A1' to 'E' category                      |
|       2 | Signages                                                       | To be provided upto 'D' category       | To be provided upto 'E' category                            |
|       3 | Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing facilities for Upper Classes | Not included in identified amenities   | To be provided at 'A1' & 'A' category                       |
|       4 | Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing facilities for other Classes | Not included in identified amenities   | To be provided at A1, A & B category with bathing facility. |

In  the  revised  guidelines  of  2013,  it  was  also  mentioned  that  these guidelines  shall  be  effective  for  only  those  'Adarsh'  stations  which  were identified in the year 2013-14 and onwards.

The Audit has noticed deficiencies in the following four amenities:

- 1) Pay & Use Toilets
2. 2)
3. Signages
- 3) Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing facilities for Upper Classes
- 4) Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing facilities for other Classes

For  item  (1)  it  is  stated  that  wherever  Pay  &  Use  Toilets  are  not feasible, departmental toilets are to be provided as per extant guidelines for provision of amenities under 'Adarsh' Station Scheme. For item (2), Audit has also  noticed  deficiencies  of  signages  at  E  category  stations,  which  were identified under 'Adarsh' Station Scheme before 2013 and hence provision of signages  was  not  stipulated.    In  respect  of  items  (3)  and  (4)  above,  it  is stated that barring two stations, all other stations were identified prior to 2013  and  therefore  were  not  required  to  be  provided  with  these  two facilities.

The  above  will  be  clarified  to  Audit  in  the  reply  which  is  under compilation on the basis of information being obtained from Zonal Railways.

In order to provide clean & well maintained toilets at stations, Zonal railways award integrated station cleanliness contracts including cleanliness of toilets at railway stations or award contract for maintaining toilets through 'Pay & Use' or maintain them in-house by deploying railway staff  as  per  the  situation  and  site  conditions.  Around  800  stations  have toilets operated on 'Pay & Use' basis.

X-Ray scanners have not been installed at all the stations. Strengthening  and  up-gradation  of  security  infrastructure  is  an  ongoing process  and  based  on  the  threat  perception  and  other  factors,  X-Ray Scanners  have  been  installed  at  96  stations  for  scanning  of  passenger luggage over Indian Railways.

The scheme of Adarsh station has been introduced in the year 2009. Under  this  scheme,  upto  2016-17,  1253  stations  have  been  selected  for development  as  Adarsh  Station  by  providing  stipulated  amenities.  Out  of these,  1036  stations  have  already  been  developed  and  remaining  railway stations  are  planned  to  be  developed  under  'Adarsh'  station  scheme  by March, 2018.

In order to provide better accessibility to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), short term facilities as detailed below have been planned at all stations, beginning with 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations:

- 
- Standard ramp for barrier free entry.
-  Earmarking at least two parking lots.
- 
- Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building.
-  Signages of appropriate visibility.
-  At  least  one  drinking  water  tap  suitable  for  use  by  Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
- 
- 
- At least one toilet (on the ground floor).
- 'May I help you' Booth.

In addition, long term facilities, as detailed below, have been planned at 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations:

-  Engraving on edges of platform.
- 
- Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer.

There are 709 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations catering to the bulk of passenger traffic on Indian Railways, out of which 645 stations have been provided  with  all  short-term  facilities.  Details  of  railway  stations  provided with facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under all categories of stations are appended.

To facilitate easy movement of elderly and Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), escalators/lifts are provided at 'A-1', 'A' & 'C' category stations progressively based on techno commercial feasibility & availability of funds. So far, 394 escalators at 167 stations and 219 lifts at 100 stations have been provided. Further, work is in progress for about 380 nos. of escalators at 133 stations and 427 nos. of lifts at 134 stations which shall be completed over a period of next two years. Maintenance of cleanliness over the entire Indian Railway network is a  continuous  endeavour.  Regular  events  on  cleanliness  are  planned  and organised to improve and maintain cleanliness at Railway premises including toilets, platforms and tracks at railway stations in the mega cities. Special intensive cleaning drives at major Railway stations have also been undertaken  by  Zonal  Railways.  Swachchhta  Pakhwadas  are  also  taken  up every  year  to  ensure  continued  emphasis  on  cleanliness.  Campaigns  for increasing  the  awareness  and  participation  from  all  sections  viz.  Railway staff, Railway users/public as well as Charitable Institutions/Social Organisations,  were  organised  at  many  major  stations.  Enforcement  of Indian  Railways  (Penalties  for  activities  affecting  cleanliness  at  railway premises) Rules, 2012 has also been intensified. Regular inspections are conducted by various officials at the railway stations  to  monitor  cleanliness  and  also  to  identify  weak  areas  to  take remedial  measures.  Drives  are  launched  from  time  to  time  particularly during  rush  seasons  to  have  wider  monitoring.  Stations  are  inspected  for improving cleanliness by Service Improvement Groups at stations, divisions and  Headquarter  levels  and  remedial  action  is  taken  on  the  deficiencies noticed.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO.256 BY SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2017 REGARDING FACILITIES AT ADARSH STATIONS

The details of railway stations provided with facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under all categories of stations are as under:

|   S.No. | Facility for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)                                        |   Approximate number of stations, where facility provided |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Standard ramp for barrier free entry                                                       |                                                      2075 |
|       2 | Earmarking at least two parking lots                                                       |                                                      1195 |
|       3 | Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building                                 |                                                      1295 |
|       4 | Signages of appropriate visibility                                                         |                                                      1335 |
|       5 | At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) |                                                      1690 |
|       6 | At least one toilet (on the ground floor)                                                  |                                                      1655 |
|       7 | May I help you booth                                                                       |                                                      1015 |
|       8 | Engraving on edges of platforms                                                            |                                                      1725 |
|       9 | Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer                                          |                                                      1175 |

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