Lok Sabha Question No. 1473 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Height of Platforms
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mimi Chakraborty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1473 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## HEIGHT OF PLATFORMS

1473. MS. MIMI CHAKRABORTY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  inspite  of  commitment,  the  platforms  of major stations have not been raised at par with the train gate levels;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  level  differences  are  one  of  the  causes  of accidents;

(c)  if  so,  the  number  of  accidents  that  have  occurred  on  the  railway platforms during the last five years; and

(d)  the  action  plan  proposed  to  raise  the  platform  level  at  par  with coach gate for the safety of passengers including children and older passengers?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1473 BY MS. MIMI CHAKRABORTY TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  27.11.2019  REGARDING  HEIGHT  OF PLATFORMS

- (a) to (c) Platforms of different levels viz. rail level, medium level and high level are provided as per prescribed schedule of dimensions  at  various  categories  of  stations.  It  is  Railways' endeavor to provide platform of appropriate height conforming to the prescribed schedule of dimensions as per category of station. Gap  between  platforms  and  coach  floor would  not lead to accident if passengers board/de-board the train when it has come to halt. However, it causes inconvenience to passengers as when they try to board/de-board the moving train.
- (d)  The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Railways  to minimize such incidents:-
- (i) Considering the safety aspects, Ministry of Railways in April` 2018 have revised the norms of Minimum Essential Amenities and decided to provide with High Level Platforms irrespective of its category of station on Broad Gauge which was  not  the  case  earlier,  as  only  erstwhile  'A1',  'A'  &  'C' category  stations  were  provided  with  High  Level  platforms. However,  priority  will  be  accorded  to  higher  category  of station over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing  the  work  of  raising  the  height  of  platforms  and henceforth  no  work  of  raising  the  platform  to  medium  level shall  be  taken  up.  All  existing  sanctioned  work  for  raising the  height  of  platforms  from  rail  level/  low  level  shall  be made to high level. In the financial year 2018-19, Ministry of Railways  have  also  sanctioned  umbrella  works  of  `6200/crore  for  'Provision  of  Foot  over  Bridges  and/or  High  level Platforms at stations' as a safety measure.
- (ii) Regular announcements are made through Passenger Address  System  at  Railway  Stations  urging  passengers  not to board or de-board the moving trains.
- (iii) Various awareness campaigns are organized by Railways to sensitize  the  passengers  about  the  dangers  of  boarding/deboarding running trains and foot-board/roof-top travelling etc.
- (iv)Drives  are  conducted  against  persons  travelling  on  footboard  and  roof  top  of  trains,  boarding/de-boarding  running trains. Persons apprehended are prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
- (v) Ministry  of  Railways  had  decided  in  the  year  2014  to  raise the  height  of  passenger  platforms  in  Mumbai  Suburban section  from  760-840  mm  to  840-920  mm.  Accordingly,  the raising of the platforms has been done. In order to reduce the vertical  gap  between  coach  floor  and  platforms,  passenger platforms  in  Mumbai  Suburban  section  were  identified  for raising  of  the  height  which  include  83  platforms  on  Central Railway  and  168  platforms  (145  platforms  on  ChurchgateVirar  Section  and  23  platforms  on  Virar  -  Dahanu  Road Section)  on  Western  Railway.  All  the  platforms  have  been raised  except  for  4  platforms  at  Sion,  Matunga  and  Mahim Railway  stations  which  are  not  to  be  raised  as  these  have been planned to be dismantled in connection with project of execution of 5th and 6th line.

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