Lok Sabha Question No. 1568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Accidents/Deaths in Bengaluru Division
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1568 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## ACCIDENTS/DEATHS IN BENGALURU DIVISION

1568. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether it is true as reported that deaths near Railway Stations in Bengaluru Division in 2019 (till September) add up to 1,246;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof, station-limit-wise;
- (c)      the  steps  taken  by  Railways  to  stop/restrict  'trespassing'  across railway tracks, apart from posting adequate staff by railway authorities or the RPF to stop people from crossing tracks;
- (d)    whether  the  Ministry  has  taken/  would  take  any  steps  towards creating awareness among passengers on their safety, posting guards at accident-prone  spots,  installing  commuter  friendly  lifts,  improving  foot over bridge design, etc.;
- (e)     if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)      the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  foot board death cases?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 1568 BY SHRI P.C.  MOHAN  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2019 REGARDING ACCIDENTS/DEATHS IN BENGALURU DIVISION

(a) and (b): No, Sir. Based on the information received from Government Railway  Police  Stations  (GRPS),  the  station-wise  number  of  deaths reported  near  Railway  Stations  in  Bengaluru  Division  during  the  year 2019 (upto September), is as under:

| Name of Station              |   No. of deaths reported |
|------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Bangalore city P.S.          |                      151 |
| Bengaluru Rural P.S.         |                      191 |
| Bengaluru Cant Railway P.S.  |                      123 |
| Bayyappanahalli Railway P.S. |                       72 |
| Bangarpet Railway P.S.       |                       30 |
| Total                        |                      567 |

- (c) to (f): Railways have constituted an interdepartmental 'Joint Committee' comprising officers of Safety, Security,  Signal  &  Engineering departments across all Zonal Railways to study the causes and suggest specific measures to minimise deaths due to untoward incidents including trespassing, foot board travelling etc. Accordingly, preventive and corrective  measures  are  taken  to  improve  and  create  infrastructure  to minimise casualties.

Besides,  the  following  corrective  measures  are  also  being  taken  by  the Railways to prevent deaths in untoward incidents on Railway track apart from deployment of Railway staff including RPF personnel:-

- i. Railways has been constructing foot over bridges (FOBs) at places where passengers are required to cross tracks.
- ii. Regular announcements  are made  through Passenger Address System at Railway stations urging passengers to use FOBs and to avoid crossing of railway tracks.
- iii. Various awareness campaigns are organized by Railways to sensitize passengers about the fatalities of crossing railway tracks, footboard/ rooftop travelling, boarding/de-boarding running trains etc.

- Regular  drives  are  conducted  against  trespassing,  travelling  on footboard,  steps,  rooftop  of  trains,  boarding/de-boarding  running trains  and  the  persons  apprehended  are  prosecuted  under  the
- iv. relevant provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
- v. Erection of boundary wall/fencing at identified locations, vulnerable to trespass.
- vi. Lifts are being provided at Railways stations for faster and smooth evacuation  of  passengers.  In  Bengaluru  Division,  11  lifts  have already been provided.
- vii. Warning  sign  boards  are  provided  at  conspicuous  places  for  the awareness of passengers.
- viii. During  the  festive  seasons,  extra  manpower  is  provided  at  station area to manage the crowd.
- ix. Unauthorized trespassing on Railway premises, including the Railway  track,  is  a  punishable  offence  under  section  147  of  the Railways Act, 1989. During the current year upto September, 2019, total 1,15,937 persons have been prosecuted for trespassing.
- x. Travelling  on  footboard/  rooftop  of  the  train  including  engine  is  a punishable  offence  under  section  156  of  the  Railways  Act,  1989. During the current year upto September, 2019,  total 45,359 persons have been prosecuted for footboard/ rooftop travelling.
- xi. Railways  take  regular  measures  to  protect  Railway  land  from trespassing across railway tracks by providing boundary  wall, fencing, tree plantation at vulnerable locations. Ministry of Railways has planned to construct boundary wall/fencing at vulnerable locations and approaches of major railway stations to guard tracks from cattle crossing and to prevent unauthorized trespassing. During the financial year 2018-19, Ministry of Railways has constructed 276 kilometres boundary wall at identified vulnerable locations and their approaches  to safeguard track, prevent encroachment  and  to improve safety of track over Indian Railways.

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