Lok Sabha Question No. 124 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Fog Safety Devices
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.124 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## FOG SAFETY DEVICES

*124. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  passengers  of  Indian Railways face great difficutly especially during winter season as most of the time trains are delayed/ cancelled because of fog and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Railways has installed fog safety devices to solve the problems  which  are  being  faced  by  the  drivers  especially  during  the winter season in seeing the signals and if so, the number of trains in which fog safety devices have been installed so far, zone-wise;
- (c) the extent to which this device helps to run the train in dense fog along  with  the  number  of  trains  proposed  to  be  equipped  with  such device in near future, zone-wise;
- (d)  whether  the  Railways  also  proposes  to  deploy  fogmen  for  placing detonators on railway tracks, if so, the details thereof along with the other measures being considered for safety of passengers and trains; and

(e)  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve facilities being provided to the passengers during the winter season in all the railway zones in the country including the Bundelkhand railway zone?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

## (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 STARRED QUESTION NO. 124 BY SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT AND SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 19.12.2018 REGARDING FOG SAFETY DEVICES

- (a)    A large number of trains are affected every year during foggy weather in the winter months in Northern parts of the country.
- (b)  Yes,  Madam.    A  Fog  Safety  Device  called  'Fog  Pass  Device'  (FPD)    a Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  based  portable  device  is  carried  by  the Loco Pilot. These are not fixed on any train and   are being used only in those zones of Indian Railways that are fog affected.  Details of Fog Pass Devices  procured  and  provided  to  Zonal  Railways,  which  are  affected  by foggy weather conditions, are as under:
- (c)  Fog  Pass  Device  is  a  GPS  based  hand  held  portable  system  device provided as an aid for the crew during foggy weather through audio visual alarm, whenever any landmark comes within the Geo-fence range. Location of stations, warning boards, signals, level crossing gates and Whistle Limit (W/L)  boards  in  the  section  is  fed  in  the  equipment.    While  approaching these pre fed locations, equipment gives audio visual alarm as and when it falls  within  the  Geo-fence  distance.  It  displays  speed  of  the  locomotive, distance and time to reach landmarks. 6940 Nos. Fog Pass Devices are in use over East Central Railway, Northern Railway, North Central Railway,

| Zonal Railway      |   No. of devices provided |
|--------------------|---------------------------|
| East Central       |                       877 |
| Northern           |                      2648 |
| North Central      |                       537 |
| North Eastern      |                       975 |
| Northeast Frontier |                      1101 |
| North Western      |                       802 |
| Total              |                      6940 |

North  Eastern  Railway,  Northeast  Frontier  Railway  and  North  Western Railway  which  are  the  most  fog  affected  Railways.    6000  nos.  more  Fog Pass  Devices  have  been  sanctioned  and  included  in  Pink  Book  2018-19. Purchase  order  for  6000  units  has  already  been  issued  in  August,  2018. Zone-wise details of Purchase Orders issued are as under:

| Zonal Railway      |   Purchase order issued (No. of devices) |
|--------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Central            |                                      560 |
| Eastern            |                                      245 |
| East Central       |                                      630 |
| Eastcoast          |                                      375 |
| Northern           |                                      933 |
| North Central      |                                      772 |
| North Eastern      |                                      130 |
| North Western      |                                       20 |
| Southern           |                                      410 |
| South Central      |                                      550 |
| South Eastern      |                                      590 |
| South East Central |                                      225 |
| West Central       |                                      560 |
| Total              |                                     6000 |

- (d) Yes, Madam. Guidelines have been issued instructing Zonal Railways to take action during foggy season to ensure safe train operations as under:-
- (i) To  provide  safeguards  in  train  operation  in  Automatic  Block System during foggy weather by restricting the number of trains to two between two stations.
- (ii) Reducing the speed of train in case of poor visibility.
- (iii) Deputing additional staff (fog signal man) to alert the Loco Pilot through placement of detonators before the First Stop signal.
- (iv) Improving the visibility of signals and signal sighting boards.

(v) Loco Pilot to take precautions for being vigilant and alert and to observe  Special  Rules  and  instructions  regarding  speed  limits under foggy conditions. (e) The  facilities  provided  to  all  rail  passengers,  including  of Bundelkhand area which are helpful to them during winters also include:(i)  Dissemination  of  information  to  passengers  through  SMS  about cancellation of trains, late running of trains in case of identified trains and change in passenger's reservation status etc. (ii) Automatic refund to e-ticket holders in case of cancellation of trains. (iii)  Cancellation of Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS)

counter tickets through IRCTC website or through 139.

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