Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (STARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Level Crossings
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## LEVEL CROSSINGS

*144.    SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA: SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) the total number of level crossings, across the country at present;
- (b) the  total  number  of  unmanned  level  crossings  on  all  available  and operational lines;
- (c) the deadline fixed by the Government to do away with the unmanned level crossings on all the operational lines;
- (d) the alternative provisions that the Government has made for the users where the unmanned level crossings have been done away with; and
- (e) the  number  of  people  killed  at  level  crossings  in  the  country  during 2014-15 and the action taken by Government to minimize such accidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

(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. 144 BY SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA AND SHRI PINAKI MISRA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  13.02.2019  REGARDING LEVEL CROSSINGS

(a)  &  (b):  There  were  19507  Manned  Level  Crossings  (MLCs)  and  5792 Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) in the country as on 01.04.2018.  Out of 5792 UMLCs, there were 3479 UMLCs on Broad Gauge (BG). All these 3479 UMLCs on BG have been eliminated on 31.01.2019.

On  operational  Meter  Gauge  (MG)  and  Narrow  Gauge  (NG)  lines,  1042 UMLCs exist in total (343 on MG and 699 on NG) at present.  Balance are under gauge conversion blocks.  Presently, there are 21901 MLCs in the country.

(c): It was decided to eliminate all UMLCs on Broad Gauge (BG).  All 3479 UMLCs on BG have been eliminated on 31.01.2019.  So far as elimination of UMLCs on Meter Gauge (MG) and Narrow Gauge (NG) is concerned, it has been planned to be eliminated during gauge conversion.

(d): Depending upon site specific feasibility, UMLCs have been eliminated by adopting following four methods:

-  Closure - Closing unmanned level crossings having NIL/ negligible Train Vehicle Unit (TVU).  This was carried out with the specific approval of District Magistrate (State Government).
-  Merger  -  Merger  of  UMLCs  with  nearby  level  crossings  (LCs)/gradeseperators by construction of diversion road. This was carried out with the specific approval of District Magistrate (State Government).
-  Provision of Subways/RUBs/ROBs in lieu of level crossings.  This was carried  out  with  the  specific  approval  of  District  Magistrate  (State Government).

 ManningThough manning is not an ideal and cost economic proposition,  unmanned  LCs  which  could  not  be  eliminated  by  above methods, were manned.

(e):  During  2014-15,  130  and  31  persons  were  killed  at  unmanned  and manned level crossings respectively.  It was decided by the Government to  eliminate  all  UMLCs  on  BG.    All  UMLCs  on  BG  are  now  eliminated. Action  is  being  taken  to  reduce  the  accidents  on  manned  LCs  by following methods:

- (i) Interlocking of level crossings.
- (ii) Elimination of manned level crossings.
- (iii) Social awareness campaigns to educate road users with the use of various print and electronic media for observance of safe practices.
- (iv)  Public awareness campaigns at different places like villages, Gram Panchayat, weekly market, bus stands, schools and other public places.
- (v)  Nukkad  Nataks  organized  at  public  places  with  theme  'Safety  at Level Crossings'.
- (vi)  Safety  drives  to  ensure  availability  of  basic  infrastructure  at  level crossings including whistle boards, road warning boards, speed breakers, visibility etc. as per the laid down standards.

(vii) Level crossing awareness week is organized each year by the Zonal Railways.

(viii)  Joint  awareness and safety campaigns are being done with State Police  Departments  and  RTO  officials  to  ensure  safety  measures  and observance of rules by road users.

- (ix) SMS-based campaigns to create awareness amongst road users.

Above  steps  are  continuing  to  bring  down  accidents  at  manned  level crossings

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