Lok Sabha Question No. 1556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: Safety of Women in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1556 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

## SAFETY OF WOMEN IN TRAINS

1556. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to provide safety and security to the women passengers, who travel by trains, for their whole journey from the starting station to the destination station; and
- (b) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  high-speed trains  connect  tourist  hubs,  pilgrimage  spots  and  other  crucial areas?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1556 BY SHRI KHAGEN MURMU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.07.2021 REGARDING SAFETY OF WOMEN IN TRAINS

(a)  :  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  Government,  which  they  discharge  through Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP  to  provide  better protection  and  security  of  passenger  area  &  passengers.  Cases  of  Indian Penal Code (IPC) crime in Railways are registered and investigated by the concerned Government Railway Police.  However, following  measures are being  taken  by  the  Railways  in  coordination  with  Government  Railway Police to ensure security of women passengers:-

1. RPF  has  taken  several  measures  to  provide  better  security  of  women passengers. An Pan-Indian initiative 'Meri Seheli' was launched by RPF on  17.10.2020  with  objective  provide  enhanced  safety  and  security  to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey i.e. from the originating  station  to  destination  station.    The  focus  is  to  provide  the security  to  lady  passengers  especially  those  travelling  alone  and  to instill a sense of security in them.  Teams of lady officers and staff have been formed who are well trained and briefed about the objective.
2. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/section,  trains  are  escorted  by Railway Protection Force in addition to trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
3. Security Help Line Number 139 (Tollfree) is made operational (24X7) over Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.

4. Provision of baggage scanners, Under Vehicle Scanning System (UVSS), Bomb  Detection  equipments,  DFMDs  and  HHMDs  etc.  have  also  been made.
5. Station Security Plan is being implemented at major stations in phased manner  to  enhance  access  control,  improve  surveillance  and  achieve synergy between deployment of various security agencies on the station.
6. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  Twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  including  women  to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concern.
7. Frequent  announcements  are  made  through  Public  Address  System  to educate passengers to take precaution against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
8. Fixed  CCTV  cameras  have  been  provided  in  4010  coaches  and  814 Railway stations for enhancing security of passengers.
9. Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into compartments reserved for women passengers.
10. Exclusive  unreserved  coaches/compartments  for  female  passengers  in EMU  (Electrical  Multiple  Unit)/DMU  (Diesel  Multiple  Unit)/MMTS  (Multi Modal Transport System) trains & local passenger trains depending upon demand pattern as well as availability of accommodation.
11. Running  of  ladies  special  EMU/MEMU/MMTS  services  on  the  suburban section  of  Mumbai,  Kolkata,  Secunderabad  and  Chennai  as  well  as  on the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) sections.
12. 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 have been briefed to keep extra vigil on the lady passengers  travelling  alone,  ladies  coaches  en-route  and  at  halting stations.

13. For  safety  of  ladies  passengers,  Emergency  Talk  Back  System  and Closed  Circuit  Television  Surveillance  Cameras  have  been  provided  in ladies compartments/coaches  of  all newly  manufactured  Electrical Multiple  Unit  (EMU)  and  Air-conditioned  rakes  of  Kolkata  Metro.  This system has also been provided in all newly manufactured Air-conditioned EMU rakes and Electric Train Sets.
14. With  a  view  to  further  fortify  the  security  system,  in  addition  to  CCTV Cameras  and  Emergency  Talk  Back  System,  Flasher  lights  have  also been provided in ladies coaches in EMU rakes in some  zonal railways. These  lights  starts  blinking  and  buzzer  will  start  sounding  once  the alarm chain is pulled and it will continue till resetting of alarm chain.
15. A  reservation  quota  of  six  berths  in  sleeper  class  in  long  distance Mail/Express trains and a reservation quota of six berths in 3AC class of Garib Rath/Rajdhani/Duronto/full air-conditioned Express trains for female passengers irrespective of their age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.
16. A combined reservation quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the  train)  for  senior  citizens,  female  passengers  45  years  of  age  and above and pregnant women.
5. (b) : At present Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is the only High Speed Rail (HSR)  project sanctioned in the country and is under execution.  It connects major cities and hubs like Ahemdabad, Sabarmati, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai.  High Speed Rail projects are highly capital intensive and their sanction depends upon several factors such as technical feasibility, financial viability and availability of financing options.

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