Lok Sabha Question No. 1551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Facilities at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## FACILITIES AT STATIONS

†1551.     SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT: [

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware that the current stations of most of the railway stations and railway colonies in the country is of grave concern and these are needed to be upgraded as per the passengers amenities and strength of railway employees;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  renovate  the  said  stations and railway colonies;
- (c) the nature of facilities provided by the Government in view of security of poor labourers, women, children and senior citizens at railway stations;
- (d)  whether the Government has also ensured that all such facilities have reached the right people in the proper manner; and
- (e)  if so, the details of such data available so far at all major over crowded stations including Delhi?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (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. 1551 BY SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2019 REGARDING FACILITIES AT STATIONS. (a) to (e): Upgradation/modernisation of Railway stations is a continuous and  on-going  process  undertaken  from  time  to  time  through  various schemes.   At  present,  under  the  Adarsh  Station  Scheme,  1253  stations have  been  identified  for  development  out  of  which  1149  stations  have been developed so far and the remaining are to be developed by 2019-20. Various  passenger  amenities  like  improvement  to  facade  of  the  station building,  retiring  room,  waiting  room  (with  bathing  facilities),  separate waiting  room  for  ladies,  landscaping  of  circulating  area,  earmarked parking,  signages,  Foot  Over  Bridge,  ramps  at  entry  to  station  etc.  are provided  at  Railway  stations  under  this  scheme  as  per  the  respective category of the station.  Further, upgradation works at railway stations are  undertaken  as  per  requirement,  subject  to  inter-se  priority  and availability of funds. Railways  undertake  replacement  of  old  and  dilapidated  quarters  in railway  colonies  constructed  for  its  officers  and  staff  on  regular  basis, depending upon age and condition of quarters and availability of funds. Apart  from  that,  Indian  Railways  has  initiated  colony  redevelopment programme  wherein  funds  generated  from  commercial  exploitation  of utilized Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to be used to redevelop old colonies at no cost  to  Railways.    Rail  Land  Developpment    Authority  (RLDA)  has  been entrusted with 84 railway colonies for redevelopment. Railways  are  also  providing  specialized  Soft  Skills  Training  to  sensitize railway  station  staff  to  handle  persons  with  disability,  senior  citizens, women and children.

Policing  on  Railways  being  a  State  subject,  prevention  of  crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in  Railway  premises  as  well  as  on  running  trains  are  the  statutory responsibility  of  the  State  Governments,  which  they  discharge  through Government  Railway  Police  (GRP)/District  Police.  Cases  of  Indian  Penal Code  (IPC)  crimes  are  registered  and  investigated  by  the  concerned Government Railway Police.

However,  the  following  steps  are  also  being  taken  by  the  Railways  in coordination  with  GRP  for  safety  and  security  of  all  its  passengers including poor labourers, women, children & senior citizens in trains and at stations:-

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/sections,  2200  trains  (on  an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force (RPF) daily in addition to 2200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
2. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras, provided at about 501 stations over Indian Railways, to ensure safety and security of passengers.
3. Security Help Line number 182 is operational over Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
4. An  Integrated  Security  System  (ISS)  consisting  of  surveillance  of vulnerable  stations  through  Close  Circuit  Television  (CCTV)  Camera Network,  Access  Control,  Personal  &  Baggage  screening  etc.  has  been sanctioned to improve surveillance mechanism over 202 railway stations.
5. Drives  are  conducted  from  time  to  time  against  the  entry  of unauthorized persons in trains and railway premises.
6. Ministry  of  Railways,  in  coordination  with  Ministry  of  Women  and Child  Development  and  National  Commission  for  Protection  of  Child Rights, have issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which includes

a protocol for rescue of children found abandoned on railway stations or trafficked through trains. 7. Ladies  Special  trains running  in Metropolitan  cities are  being escorted  by  lady  RPF  personnel.  In  other  trains,  where  escorts  are provided, the train escorting parties are briefed to keep extra vigil on lady passengers  travelling  alone,  ladies  coaches  en-route  and  at  halting stations. 8. State  Level  Security  Committee  of  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been constituted  for  all  State/Union  Territories  under  the  Chairmanship  of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways.

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