Lok Sabha Question No. 1636 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Bomb Blast Mock Drill
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1636 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## BOMB BLAST MOCK DRILL

1636. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  recently  conducted  mock  bomb  blast drill at some major railway stations in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether  lack  of  coordination  is  reported  from  various  agencies dealing with railway security;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to improve the security in the railway premises; and
- (e)     if not, the reasons therefor?

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. 1636 BY SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 13.02.2019 REGARDING BOMB BLAST MOCK DRILL

(a) to (e): Policing on Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & 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.  Railway  Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP to provide better protection and security of passenger area & passengers and for matters connected therewith.    Close  liaison  is  maintained  by  the  Railways  with  the  State Police/GRP  authorities,  Central  &  State  Intelligence  agencies  and  civil 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.

During the year 2018, 85 mock bomb blast drills have been conducted at some major & sensitive Railway stations viz. New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizammuddin, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, EMU Car Shed/Ghaziabad, Pt. Deen Dayal  Upadhyaya  Jn.,  Patna,  Barddhaman,  Krishnanagar,  Halisahar, Alipur  Duar,  Siliguri,  Mumbai  Central,  Andheri,  Malad,  Bhayander,  Virar, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Basti, Mau, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Bahraich,  Lucknow City, Mailani, Siwan, Chhapra, Kaptanganj, Thave, Kathgodam, Kasganj, Varanasi City, Aunrihar, Manduadih, Anandnagar, Bhatni, Burhwal, Balia, Azamgarh, Deoriya Sadar, Sitapur, Tulsipur, Dadar Central, Thane, Wadala, Kurla Terminus, Karjat, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus/Mumbai, Vashi, Nagpur, Daund, Pune, Ahmednagar, Kurduwadi and Miraj Railway Station over Indian Railways by the Security agencies. All mock  bomb  blast  drills were  conducted  successfully  with  full coordination  with  sister  agencies  to  check  the  preparedness  of  the disaster management teams & equipments.

Besides, the following steps are being taken by the Railways  in coordination with GRP/Civil Police for safety and security of passengers in trains and stations:-

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  453 stations  over  Indian  Railways,  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of passengers.
3. Security  Help  Line  number  182  is  operational  over  Indian  Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
4. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways are in regular touch with passengers to enhance security and address their security concerns.
5. An  Integrated  Security  System  (ISS)  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.
6. All Railway Stations and passenger carrying trains are planned to be progressively provided with CCTV based surveillance system.
7. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
8. Drives are conducted  from  time  to  time  against  the  entry  of unauthorized persons in trains and railway premises.

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