Lok Sabha Question No. 4752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Improvement in Passenger Safety
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4752 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SAFETY

4752.  SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  undertaking  projects  to  improve safety of railway operations and  prevent accidents via track modernization, construction of ROBs and other such works, in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of all such proposed and active projects in the country, State-wise, along with estimated cost outlay and timeline for completion;
- (c) the details of total length of track modernization carried out and estimated cost of the same in the last 10 years, state-wise;
- (d)  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Railways  to  improve passenger safety in the country; and
- (e) whether the Ministry of Railways had specified a maximum per vehicle  load  limit  for  vehicles  plying  on  JP  Setu  across  the  River Ganga and if so, details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(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. 4752 BY SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SAFETY

- (a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned/executed  Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise, as Indian Railways network spans across various State boundaries.

Railway tracks are replaced through track renewal works which is an  ongoing  process.  Track  renewal  works  are  undertaken  as  and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal on the basis of criteria laid down in the Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual on age/condition  basis  viz.  traffic  carried  in  terms  of  gross  million tonnes,  incidence  of  rail  failure,  wear  of  rails,  corrosion  of  rails, maintainability of track as per standards etc. Track renewal works are normally completed within 2 to 3 years from date of sanction.The  details  of  the  active  track  renewal  works  are  at Appendix-I.

Government  is focusing on elimination of level crossings for increased safety of road users and railway passengers by providing Road Over Bridges (ROB)/Road Under Bridges (RUB). Railway-wise details of sanctioned ROB/RUB/Subways are at Appendix-II.

The construction of ROBs depends upon availability of encroachment  free  land  for  approach  roads,  shifting  of  utilities, allocation of adequate funds by State Governments, public support etc.  Therefore,  it  is  not  possible  to  fix  timelines  for  completion  of these ROBs.

- (c) Railway-wise details of track renewal carried out and expenditure incurred in the last ten years are at Appendix-III.

(d) Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible  steps  are  undertaken  on  a  continuous  basis  to  prevent accidents  and  to  enhance  safety.  Upgradation  of  infrastructure  to improve passenger safety is a continuous ongoing process.  Various

inputs  have  been  continuously  given  like  introduction  of  Linke Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches,  introduction  of  Train  Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) technology in signalling, enhanced track renewals,  electronic  interlocking  of  stations  and  level  crossing gates  and  elimination  of  unmanned  and  manned  level  crossing gates.

With  a  view  to  improve  fire  safety  in  running  trains,  fire  retardant furnishing  materials  are  being  provided  in  coaches  and  Fire  and Smoke Detection System is being provided in all newly manufactured Air Conditioned coaches. Further, Fire Detection and Suppression  System  is  being  provided  in  all  newly  manufactured Power cars and Pantry cars.

(e)  No,  Sir.  The  Ministry  of  Railways has not specified a maximum per vehicle load limit for vehicles plying on JP Setu across the River Ganga.

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APPENDIX-I  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4752 BY SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SAFETY

(a)  & (b) Railway-wise details of active track renewal works as on 17.03.2021 are as under:

| Zonal Railway      |   Number of active works |   Estimated cost (in Cr of Rs) |
|--------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Central            |                      749 |                           3453 |
| Eastern            |                      432 |                           1966 |
| East Central       |                      483 |                           2799 |
| East Coast         |                      474 |                           1983 |
| Northern           |                      524 |                           5253 |
| North Central      |                      643 |                           3460 |
| North Eastern      |                      402 |                           1441 |
| Northeast Frontier |                      580 |                           2464 |
| North Western      |                      260 |                           2059 |
| Southern           |                      780 |                           5358 |
| South Central      |                      517 |                           2806 |
| South Eastern      |                      636 |                           3473 |
| South East Central |                      413 |                           2455 |
| South Western      |                      576 |                           3266 |
| Western            |                      559 |                           4091 |
| West Central       |                      530 |                           6696 |
| Total              |                     8558 |                          53023 |

****

APPENDIX-II  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4752 BY SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SAFETY

(a)  &  (b)  Details  of  Railway-wise  sanctioned  ROB/RUB/Subways  as per Pink Book 2020-21 are as under:

| Zonal Railway       |   ROB |   RUB/ Subways |   TOTAL |   Railway Share (Rs. in Cr) |   State Share (Rs. in Cr) |   Total (Rs. In Cr) |
|---------------------|-------|----------------|---------|-----------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------|
| Central             |    94 |            241 |     335 |                     1637.06 |                    998.36 |             2635.42 |
| Eastern             |    84 |            111 |     195 |                     2019.82 |                   2244.68 |             4264.5  |
| East Central        |   145 |            257 |     402 |                     3510.83 |                   3409.85 |             6920.68 |
| East Coast          |    71 |            198 |     269 |                     2508.28 |                   1911.88 |             4420.16 |
| Northern            |   154 |            683 |     837 |                     5033.07 |                   4357.95 |             9391.02 |
| North Central       |   154 |            589 |     743 |                     4704.01 |                   3337.24 |             8041.26 |
| North Eastern       |    44 |            317 |     361 |                     1794.07 |                   1023.67 |             2817.75 |
| North East Frontier |     8 |            117 |     125 |                      489.56 |                    201.42 |              690.98 |
| North Western       |    71 |           1475 |    1546 |                     3176.09 |                   1695    |             4871.08 |
| Southern            |   251 |            660 |     911 |                     6233.66 |                   4283.59 |            10517.2  |
| South Central       |   147 |            422 |     569 |                     5418.44 |                   4782.7  |            10201.1  |
| South Eastern       |    44 |            187 |     231 |                     1995.76 |                   1107.96 |             3103.72 |
| South East Central  |    74 |            291 |     365 |                     2287.17 |                    858.11 |             3145.28 |
| South Western       |    77 |            155 |     232 |                     1136.08 |                    892.7  |             2028.78 |
| Western             |   207 |            857 |    1064 |                     4630.61 |                   3121.53 |             7752.14 |
| West Central        |    94 |            119 |     213 |                     2360.67 |                   1471.05 |             3831.72 |
| Total               |  1719 |           6679 |    8398 |                    48935.2  |                  35697.7  |            84632.9  |

## APPENDIX-III REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4752 BY SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SAFETY

## (c) Year-wise details of track renewal done (in Track km) in last ten years are as under:

| Zonal Railway      |   2019-20 |   2018-19 |   2017-18 |   2016-17 |   2015-16 |   2014-15 |   2013-14 |   2012-13 |   2011-12 |   2010-11 |
|--------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Central            |       280 |       278 |       299 |       195 |       185 |       205 |       153 |       201 |       196 |       253 |
| Eastern            |       236 |       267 |       268 |       178 |       162 |       185 |       217 |       207 |       197 |       190 |
| East Central       |       335 |       255 |       291 |       180 |       202 |       203 |       241 |       221 |       196 |       213 |
| East Coast         |       457 |       297 |       276 |       119 |       116 |        60 |       154 |        90 |        44 |        36 |
| Northern           |       631 |       579 |       553 |       281 |       387 |       383 |       441 |       634 |       714 |       654 |
| North Central      |       274 |       233 |       204 |       111 |       164 |       152 |       318 |       301 |       248 |       286 |
| North Eastern      |       120 |        69 |       102 |        81 |        80 |        45 |        61 |       102 |       117 |       134 |
| Northeast Frontier |       106 |       105 |        90 |        42 |        95 |        34 |        76 |        76 |        85 |        84 |
| North Western      |       242 |       227 |       198 |        80 |        59 |        24 |        39 |        78 |        59 |       133 |
| Southern           |       352 |       418 |       374 |       207 |       187 |       135 |       118 |       134 |       170 |       155 |
| South Central      |       299 |       196 |       193 |       150 |       278 |       208 |       297 |       393 |       331 |       335 |
| South Eastern      |       336 |       259 |       279 |       190 |       209 |       168 |       180 |       192 |       190 |       190 |
| South East Central |       202 |       209 |       182 |       123 |       119 |       107 |        85 |        96 |        90 |        81 |
| South Western      |       212 |       257 |       197 |       117 |       118 |        96 |       110 |       106 |       127 |       102 |
| Western            |       211 |       328 |       321 |       240 |       229 |       194 |       202 |       218 |       278 |       327 |
| West Central       |       207 |       205 |       196 |       193 |       204 |       225 |       193 |       247 |       258 |       292 |
| Total              |      4500 |      4181 |      4023 |      2487 |      2794 |      2424 |      2885 |      3296 |      3300 |      3465 |

## Year-wise details of expenditure (in Cr. of Rs) on track renewal works in last ten years are as under

| Railways           |   2019-20 |   2018-19 |   2017-18 |   2016-17 |   2015-16 |   2014-15 |   2013-14 |   2012-13 |   2011-12 |   2010-11 |
|--------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Central            |    610.85 |    764.92 |    639.08 |    441.11 |    426.66 |    391.25 |    289.39 |    299.36 |    353.78 |    397.89 |
| Eastern            |    504.27 |    554.5  |    565.7  |    458.63 |    288.6  |    368.39 |    268.13 |    319.55 |    343.13 |    325.83 |
| East Central       |    653.37 |    544.9  |    540.1  |    436.46 |    447.87 |    319.05 |    259.36 |    379.46 |    340.44 |    312.79 |
| East Coast         |    713.51 |    625.27 |    566.41 |    271.22 |    299.9  |    157.8  |    154.02 |    166.46 |    167.45 |    182.38 |
| Northern           |   1378.33 |   1351.12 |   1127.82 |    753.33 |    675.82 |    780.91 |    763.21 |    951.91 |    776.17 |    738.13 |
| North Central      |    486.71 |    517.63 |    468.8  |    407.54 |    390.82 |    351.45 |    472.2  |    471.36 |    437.03 |    456.17 |
| North Eastern      |    245.44 |    189.2  |    291.88 |    223.2  |    174.85 |    132.79 |    202.15 |    140.46 |    163.11 |    114.58 |
| Northeast Frontier |    276.13 |    374.48 |    354.42 |    313.07 |    204.37 |    149.23 |    125.48 |    208.48 |    178.4  |    176.16 |
| North Western      |    491.54 |    465.36 |    385.89 |    194.95 |    121.54 |     98.67 |    137.23 |    120.78 |    151.74 |    170.56 |
| Southern           |    721.28 |    771.63 |    741.33 |    464.71 |    398.23 |    317.57 |    302.23 |    346.38 |    294.18 |    227.8  |
| South Central      |    633.52 |    658.58 |    581.59 |    360.73 |    431.33 |    428.65 |    498.53 |    507.84 |    648.1  |    464.42 |
| South Eastern      |    553.47 |    624.58 |    539.94 |    478.97 |    383.42 |    427.16 |    434.17 |    340.06 |    391.8  |    334.64 |
| South East Central |    487.05 |    500.56 |    378.36 |    260.18 |    254.78 |    320.4  |    209.83 |    201.44 |    155.31 |    143.56 |
| South Western      |    546.73 |    510.57 |    394.42 |    214.17 |    187.54 |    138.92 |    190.89 |    205.08 |    170.35 |    135.19 |
| Western            |    569.98 |    705.53 |    742.69 |    519.2  |    363.89 |    431.3  |    317.58 |    358.46 |    340.44 |    434.29 |
| West Central       |    502.67 |    517.9  |    555.85 |    594.84 |    527.19 |    535.07 |    346.13 |    389.83 |    364    |    365.12 |
| Total              |   9374.86 |   9676.72 |   8874.28 |   6392.31 |   5576.81 |   5348.61 |   4970.53 |   5406.91 |   5275.43 |   4979.51 |