Lok Sabha Question No. 4765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Upgradation of Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4765 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## UPGRADATION OF COACHES

† 4765.   SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating/ proposes to work out any plan to make rail travel better for common man;
- (b) if  so,  the  manner  in  which  it  is  likely  to  be  upgraded  by  the Government;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Railways  is  preparing  to  convert second class/general coaches to air condition coaches;
- (d) if so, the salient features of these upgraded coaches;
- (e) the  time  by  when  and  the  manner  in  which  these  upgraded coaches are likely to be used;
- (f) whether the Government has any plans to upgrade each coach with CCTV cameras, speaker display with ultra modern facility, etc. on the lines of metro;
- (g) if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4765 BY SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING UPGRADATION OF COACHES

- (a) & (b): Yes, Sir. It is a continual endeavour of Indian Railways (IR) to  provide  more  comfort  to  passengers  during  rail  travel.  Several steps have been taken by IR in this regard, some of which are listed below:-
- i. State-of-the-art  Train-set  Vande  Bharat  services  have  been introduced between New Delhi - Varanasi and New Delhi- Shri Mata  Vaishno  Devi  Katra.  These  trains  have  ultra  modern features  like  quick  acceleration,  on  board  infotainment  and Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  based  passenger  information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps and Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets etc.
- ii. Various premium train services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Utkrisht Double Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, which have upgraded interiors / exteriors and improved passenger amenities, have been introduced in service in various train services over IR.
- iii. With a view to provide safer and more comfortable journey to the  travelling  passengers,  it  has  inter-alia  been  decided  to proliferate  /  induct  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches  and convert trains operating with conventional Integral  Coach Factory  (ICF)  type  coaches  by  LHB  coaches,  in  a  phased manner.  LHB  coaches  are  technologically  superior  and  have better riding, aesthetics and safety features than conventional ICF  type  coaches.  To  this  end,  Production  Units  of  Indian
- Railways are producing only LHB coaches from 2018-19 onwards. Presently, 647 pairs of trains on IR system are being operated with LHB coaches.
- iv. Vistadome  coaches  provide  panoramic  view,  through  wider body side windows as well as through transparent sections in the  roof,  thus  enabling  the  passengers  to  enjoy  the  scenic beauty  of  the  places  through  which  they  travel.  Recently, Vistadome coaches on LHB platform have been manufactured with several modern features and amenities.
- v. IR had also launched Project Utkrisht in April 2018 in order to improve  the  condition  of  ICF  type  coaches  running  in  Mail  / Express trains. Upgradation of 447 rakes of Mail / Express trains has been completed till December 2020 under Project Utkrisht.
- vi. Under Project Swarn, 65 rakes of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains have been upgraded across multiple dimensions, which include coach  interiors,  toilets,  onboard  cleanliness,  staff  behaviour, linen, etc.
- vii. 63 smart coaches with ultra modern features like Smart Public address and passenger information system, Smart HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system), Smart security and surveillance system etc. have been manufactured and introduced in service.
- viii. Conversion  of  End-On-Generation  (EOG)  trains  into  Head-OnGeneration  (HOG)  trains  to  reduce  noise  and  air  pollution  at stations and in trains. It is expected to significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
- ix. Conventional lighting in coaches is being replaced with modern and energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.
- x. IR has also been providing increased number of mobile charging points in coaches.

(c)  to  (e):  The  design  of LHB  AC  General Second Class coaches is under finalization by Research Design and Standards Organisation  / Lucknow and design features of the coaches shall be finalized once the layout is frozen. The  coaches  shall  be  manufactured  by Production Units thereafter.

(f)  to  (h):  Closed  Circuit  Television  (CCTV)  cameras  have  already been provided in more than 2,900 coaches. Installation of GPS based Passenger Announcement cum Passenger Information  System  (PAPIS)  in  EMU  &  Kolkata  Metro  has  already been  installed.  This  Passenger  Information  System  informs  the passengers  regarding  the  next  approaching  station  through  audio announcement on speakers as well as through video display on LED screens simultaneously. Further, newly manufactured EMU / Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) rakes are already equipped with  such  technology/system.  PAPIS  system  is  also  available  in premium  trains  like  Vande  Bharat,  Humsafar,  Tejas  and  UDAY Express. Indian  Railways  endeavours  to  gradually  proliferate  CCTV  and PAPIS  in  more  coaches  in  order  to  enhance  safety  &  security  of passengers. Sanction under Rolling Stock Programme  is  also available  for  provision  of  PAPIS  in  19,050  coaches  and  CCTV  in 40,750 coaches under Plan Head-21.

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