Lok Sabha Question No. 1370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Security and Safety of  Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1370 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## SECURITY AND SAFETY OF PASSENGERS

1370. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    the  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  improve  the  security  and safety of passengers;
- (b)  whether  the  Railways  is  contemplating  establishment  of  a separate authority for this purpose in the name of 'Railway Safety Authority'; and
- (c)   if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Prevention and detection of crime, registration of First Information  Report  (FIR),  their  investigation  and  maintenance  of law & order in railway station premises as well as in running trains are  the  statutory  responsibility  of  State  Governments,  which  they discharge through the GRP. Railways, through the Railway Protection  Force  (RPF),  are  supplementing  efforts  of  respective States to strengthen security of passengers across Indian Railways. Measures initiated by the RPF to strengthen security of passengers include escorting of 2500 trains (on an average daily), in addition to escorting of 2200 such trains by GRP, access control at  important  stations,  operationalisation  of  Security  Help  Line number 182,  surveillance  through  Close  Circuit  Television  (CCTV) Cameras provided at about 436 stations, prosecution of offenders

under relevant provisions of the Railways Act, 1989, etc. The year 2018 has been declared by the Ministry of Railways as the year of women security for implementation of an Action Plan to strengthen women  security.  A  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP),  on  care and  protection  of  children  on  railways,  has  been  jointly  prepared with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). Under the  SOP,  Child  Help  Desks/Kiosks  (CHD)  have  been  set  up  at  35 railway stations and 53 railway stations have been further identified for extension  of this  scheme.  State  Level  Security Committee  for  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been  constituted  for  all State/Union Territories (UTs) under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/ Commissioner of States/ Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements for the Railways.

Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  by  Indian  Railways  and  all possible  steps  are  undertaken  on  a  continual  basis  to  prevent accidents and to enhance safety.  These include timely replacement of over-aged assets, 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 safety inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate  staff  for  observance  of  safe  practices.  Preventive  and predictive  maintenance  of  the  Railway  assets  is  undertaken  to ensure safe train operation.  Safety devices/systems being used to prevent  accidents  include  Electronic  Interlocking,  track  circuiting, provision of Block Proving Axle Counters, Colour Light LED Signals, Train Protection and Warning System, Vigilance Control Device, Fog Pass Device, usage of 52 kg/60 kg, 90 or higher UTS rails and prestressed  Concrete  Sleepers,  use  of  Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  of rails and welds at predefined periodicity to detect internal flaws in rails/welds.  Electronic  monitoring  of  track  geometry  is  carried  out to detect defects and plan maintenance.  Steel Channel Sleepers on girder  bridges  are  being  used  while  carrying  out  primary  track renewals.  Further, it has been decided to lay Thick webs switches,

Weldable  Cast  Maganese  Steel  crossings  on  identified  routes. Progressive  use  of  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  Coaches,  use  of  Centre Buffer Couplers with Integral Coach Factory Coaches, etc.  Railway tracks  are  replaced  on  age-cum-condition  basis  through  track renewal  works  which  is  an  ongoing  process.  Other  measures include  training  of  loco  pilots  and  other  safety  category  staff, improvement of their working conditions including proper rest and periodic  medical  examination  etc.  Besides,  patrolling  of  tracks, footplate inspections and safety reviews at various levels, etc. are regularly  conducted  to  continuously  monitor  and  improve  safety aspects of the Indian Railways.

- (b)
- No, Madam.
- (c) Does not arise.

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