Lok Sabha Question No. 796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Effect of Heavy Rains on Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.796

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## EFFECT OF HEAVY RAINS ON RAILWAYS

## 796. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  heavy  rains  have  severely affected rail services of the Central Railway in Mumbai and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has any  plan  to  provide  support  to  Mumbai's lifeline local trains during the monsoon season;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether locomotive engine has been modified so that it can move local trains as well as long-distance trains that get stuck on tracks due to waterlogging; and
- (e) if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) Rail  services  of  Central  Railway  in  Mumbai  have  not  been  affected during this year due to heavy rains, so far.
- (b) and  (c)  Running  of  Mumbai  local  trains,  including  during  monsoon season, is being monitored rigorously. Steps being taken for smooth running of Mumbai local trains during monsoon season  include:-
1. Control room is being monitored round the clock by officers and running and operating staff is kept on alert and advised to attend office in short notice during flooding.
2. Motor points are clamped in flood prone areas.
3. Precautionary measures are taken in close co-ordination with Metrological department, BEST and Municipal Authorities and information is given to public through announcement & media.
4. Water pumps have been installed at flood prone areas of railway tracks and points have been identified to be clamped in case of heavy rain.
5. Patrolmen have been deployed at vulnerable locations by the engineering department.
6. Muck  Specials  are  being  run  at  frequent  intervals  to  clear  tracks  of garbage etc.
7. Close co-ordination and liaisoning is done with various Municipal Bodies for arranging local transport and quick disbursal of passengers
8. Monsoon precaution booklets have been issued by engineering and safety department,  precautionary  measures  are  taken  to  avoid  marooning  of rakes by close monitoring.
9. Monsoon  rakes are formed at various locations to meet unusual occurrences.
10. Crowd  control  at  vulnerable  locations  viz.  Foot  Over  Bridges  (FOBs), Station entrance/exits by deputing ticket checking staff and co-ordination with  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)/Government  Railway  Police  (GRP) staff.
11. Proper upkeep and maintenance of ticketing equipments like Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines and  Coin-operated  Ticket  Vending  Machines  (CoTVMs)  to  ensure  proper condition of ticketing stock and to avoid down time of machines.
12. Availability of adequate stock of catering materials and drinking water at all catering stalls, is ensured.
- (d) and (e) No specific modification in diesel locomotives has been carried for this purpose.  Diesel locomotives can haul long distance as well as local trains within the existing operational conditions.

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