Lok Sabha Question No. 4072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Accidents Due to Overcrowding
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4072 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## ACCIDENTS DUE TO OVERCROWDING

## 4072. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  it  is  true  that  there  are  large  number  of  deaths  being caused in local sub-urban trains in mega cities due to overcrowding and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  accidents  due  to over crowding in local sub-urban trains during the last five years, year and city-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Ministry  has  identified  railway  bridges  across  India that requires repair or re-construction so as to avoid accidents and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)     the action taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4072 BY SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.07.2019 REGARDING ACCIDENTS DUE TO OVERCROWDING

- (a):    No,  Sir.    No  deaths  could  be  attributed  to  overcrowding  in  trains including local sub-urban trains in megacities except 05 reported in year 2018 over Chennai Division of Southern Railway (Tamilnadu State).
- (b):  The following measures including infrastructural measure are being taken  by  Railways  to  reduce  accidents  due  to  overcrowding  in  local suburban trains:-
- (i) Indian Railways, subject to operational and availability of resources, endeavors to cater to the travelling needs and augment the carrying capacity of sub-urban sectors by introducing new services and by augmenting to the loads of existing train services. Accordingly, during the year 2018-19, 54 new services of 12 car, 2 new services of 15 car & 1 service  of  8  car  have  been  introduced  on  the  suburban  sectors  of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Besides, 96 services have been augmented from 9 cars to 12 cars and 4 services from 12 cars to 15 cars, during the same period.
- (ii) The centre grab poles which are slippery are replaced by knurling type grab pole in Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase I & II rakes for better grip in order to prevent incidents of falling passengers from local trains.
- (iii) One  fully  air  conditioned  EMU  rake  is  already  running  in  Western Railway having automatic door closing system thereby enhancing public safety.  It  has  been  decided  to  induct  more  such  air  conditioned  EMU rakes based on traffic projections and also under MUTP-III and MUTP-III A.
- (iv) Regular  announcements  are  made  through  Passenger  Address System at Railway stations urging  passengers not to board/de-board in moving trains.

(v) Various awareness campaigns are organized by Railways to sensitize passengers to avoid foot-board travelling due to overcrowding.

(c) and (d): There is a well established system of inspection of bridges on Indian Railways. All the bridges are inspected twice a year, one before the  onset  of  monsoon  by  supervisors  and  one  detailed  inspection  after the monsoon by officers. In addition, certain bridges are also inspected more  frequently  depending  upon  their  condition.  Repair/  strengthening/ rehabilitation/ rebuilding of railway bridges is a continuous process and is undertaken in a planned way whenever so warranted by their physical condition  as  ascertained  during  these  inspections.  All  bridges  are  safe for  train  movement  at  permitted  speed.  During  the  last  five  years (2014-15 to 2018-19), a total 4032 bridges have been repaired/ strengthened/ rehabilitated/ rebuilt on Indian Railways. As on 01.04.2019, a  total  of  4168  bridges  have  been  sanctioned  for  repair/  strengthening/ rehabilitation etc. on Indian Railways.

*****