Lok Sabha Question No. 520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Over-Crowding at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.520 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## OVER-CROWDING AT STATIONS

520. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to reduce the rush-hour crowds in local trains and metros in cities, especially in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi;
- (b) whether staggered office timings are being implemented in Government and private offices to manage the number of commuters;

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- (c) if so, the details of other measures being taken to prevent cases of over-crowding at railway stations;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  to  improve  the  infrastructure  and  other facilities at Railway stations in Karur, Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  railway  stations disabled friendly?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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.  520  BY  MS.  S.  JOTHIMANI  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2020 REGARDING OVERCROWDING AT STATIONS

(a)  and  (b)  Indian  Railways,  subject  to  operational  feasibility  and availability  of  resources,  endeavors  to  cater  to  the  travelling  needs and augment the carrying capacity of suburban sectors by introducing new  services  and  by  augmenting  to  the  loads  of  existing  train services. Accordingly, during the year 2019-2020, 26 new services of 12 car, 13 new services of 9 car have been introduced on the suburban sectors  of  Chennai  and  Kolkatta.  Besides,  183  services  have  been augmented  from  9  cars  to  12  cars  to  cater  to  the  commuters.    At present,  Mumbai  area,  Chennai  area  &  Delhi  areas  are  respectively being  served  by  3037,  675  &  124  train  services.    To  cater  to  varied office  timings  of  both  Government  and  private  offices,  suburban services are operated through- out the day.

(c) In order to prevent overcrowding at Railway stations, a number of measures  have  been  undertaken  by  Indian  Railways.  Some  of  the measures are as under:-

- i. Separate  entry  and  exit  points  at  major  stations  to  facilitate easy  ingress  and  egress  of  passengers.  The  entry  and  exit points  are  being  manned  by  staff  of  Railway  commercial department  and  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)/Government Railway Police (GRP) at major and important railway stations, round the clock.
- ii. Maintaining of queue  system  for  hassle  free  boarding of passengers  in  general  coaches  of  important  trains  at  major originating stations.
- iii. Clear  demarcation  of  parking  and  non-parking  areas  to  avoid haphazard parking and overcrowding.
- iv. Diversification  of  ticket  booking  modes  through  proliferation  of Automatic  Ticket  Vending  Machines  (ATVM),  ticketing  through mobile  phone,  online  ticketing  etc.  to  reduce  rush  at  passenger reservation systems and booking offices at the stations.
- v.   Increase in rate of platform ticket from ₹ 5 to ₹ 10. Delegation of power  to  Divisional  Railway  Managers  to  increase  the  rate  of platform tickets beyond ₹ 10 to regulate rush at platforms during specific occasions like rally, mela, etc.
- vi. Regulation  and  monitoring  of  crowd  at  major  Railway  stations through Close Circuit Television Surveillance System and Access Control Mechanism.
7. (d)      Karur  is  a  'NSG-4'category  station.  This  station  has  been provided with all the essential amenties as per norms. The following  works  pertaining  to  passenger  amenities  have  been completed at Karur Station:-

|   S.No. | Name of Work                                                                         |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Upgrading all toilets in waiting hall including pay and use toilets in all platforms |
|       2 | Provision of Divyang toilets in all platforms                                        |
|       3 | Improvement in circulating area and vehicle parking                                  |
|       4 | Provision of 03 water coolers                                                        |
|       5 | Provision of roof covering for existing Foot-over bridge at Karur Station.           |

Further, the following passenger amenity works are in progress at Karur Station:-

|   S.No. | Name of Work                                                               |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Provision of Replacing Platform Sink Tap in all Platforms                  |
|       2 | Replacing of valves/ball valve                                             |
|       3 | Improvements of Drinking water GLR roof & GLR Area                         |
|       4 | Separate pipe line from Municipal Tank to Railway GLR                      |
|       5 | Improvements of the Platform Shelter roof in station area in Platform No.1 |
|       6 | Improvement of Gents and Ladies waiting hall toilet at station             |
|       7 | Improvement of drainage from waiting hall to Manhole                       |
|       8 | Improvement of platform open drain                                         |
|       9 | Improvement of Platform Toilet in Platform No.1                            |
|      10 | Provision of Monumental National Flag on high mast at Karur Station        |

(e) Indian  Railways  is  committed  to  make  its  railways  stations and trains accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) as part of 'Sugamya Bharat Mission' or Accessible India Campaign of Government of India.   Improvement/  augmentation  of  amenities  at Railway stations, including those for differently abled passengers is a  continuous  process.  Provisions  of  facilities  for  Persons  with Disabilities (Divyangjan) are to be made at all stations over Indian Railways.    In  April,2018,  it  has  been  decided  to  change  the categorization of Station from 'A-1', 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' & 'F' category to  NSG1, NSG2, NSG3, NSG4, NSG5 & NSG6, SG1, SG2 & SG3 and HG1, HG2 & HG3 based on passenger handled and earnings of the stations.

In order to provide better accessibility to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),  Short Term Facilities  and  Long Terms  facilities  have been planned at all stations (including erstwhile B category stations),  beginning  with  Non  Suburban  Group  'NSG1',  'NSG2', 'NSG3' & 'NSG 4' category stations.  The details of Railway stations provided with Short-Term Facilities so far for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under all categories of stations over Indian Railways 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                                                       |                                                      4064 |
|       2 | Earmarking at least two parking lots                                                       |                                                      2024 |
|       3 | Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building                                 |                                                      2110 |
|       4 | Signages of appropriate visibility                                                         |                                                      1820 |
|       5 | At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) |                                                      3107 |
|       6 | At least one toilet (on the ground floor)                                                  |                                                      4201 |
|       7 | May I help you booth                                                                       |                                                      1325 |

The Long-Term Facilities, which are planned to be provided for Divyangjan at 'NSG-1' to 'NSG-4' categories of stations are as follows:-

|   S.No. | Facility                                           |   Number of station |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|       1 | Engraving on edges of platforms                    |                1940 |
|       2 | Provision of facility for inter- platform transfer |                1290 |

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