Lok Sabha Question No. 1635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Lack of Proper Lighting
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha, Prataprao  Jadhav, Subrata Pathak, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta, Shrirang Appa Barne, Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1635 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## LACK OF PROPER LIGHTING

1635. SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has recently announced many passenger amenities and facilities in railways and railway stations in the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  passengers  face  difficulties  in identifying  the  station  in  darkness  due  to  lack  of  proper  lighting  at railway stations located in rural areas;

- (d) if so, whether passengers also face difficulties due to the absence of an announcement system in the trains about the next station;

- (e) whether the Government proposes to make arrangements for the advance announcement of name of the next station as well as written information in  each  coach  through  screening  board  on  the  lines  of  metro  trains  to address the said problem;

- (f) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done; and

- (g) the  steps taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  convert  railway stations in the country to the standards of airport?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  1635  BY SHRI  SANJAY  SADASHIVRAO  MANDLIK,  SHRI  RAVI KISHAN,  SHRI  RAVINDRA  KUSHWAHA,  SHRI  PRATAPRAO  JADHAV,  SHRI SUBRAT  PATHAK,  SHRI  BIDYUT  BARAN  MAHATO,  SHRI  SUDHEER  GUPTA, SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE AND SHRI HIBI EDEN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021 REGARDING LACK OF PROPER LIGHTING (a) & (b): Augmentation/Improvement of passenger amenities on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process. At the time of construction of station, Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) is provided as per norms based on the  category  of  station.  Recommended  and  Desirable  Amenities  are  further escalated from time to time with growth in passenger traffic at stations, based on needs and expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds.      However,  with  a  view  to  meet  the  expectations  of  the  rail  users, Indian Railways is making all out efforts to provide improved amenties/facilities at all railway stations  and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon volume of the passenger traffic and inter-se priority  subject to availability of funds. (c): Based on suggestion received from Consultative Committee of MPs for the Ministry  of  Railways  for  need  of  proper  illumination  of  station  name  boards displayed at the two ends of the platforms, it was reiterated to Zonal Railways that electric poles provided at the platforms of all electrified stations should be adjusted in such a manner that station name boards provided at the two ends of the platforms are properly illuminated so as to be read easily during night.  It was  also  emphasized  that  lights  specifically  provided  for  illumination  of  the station name board are kept glowing during the night. (d) to  (f):  Installation  of  Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  based  Passenger Announcement cum Passenger Information System (PAPIS) in Electric Multiple Unit  (EMU)  &  Kolkata  Metro  has  already  been  installed.  This Passenger Information  System  informs  the  passengers  regarding  the  next  approaching station  through  audio  announcement  on  speakers  as  well  as  through  video display on LED screens simultaneously. Further, newly manufactured EMU/MEMU rakes are already equipped with such technology/system.  Passenger  announcement/  information  system  are  also available  in  premium  trains  like  Vande  Bharat,  Humsafar,  Tejas  and  UDAY Express. (g): At  present,  modernisation/upgradation  of  Railway  stations  is  undertaken under  Adarsh  Station  scheme,  based  on  identified  need  of  providing  better enhanced passenger amenities at stations. 1253 stations have been identified for  development under this scheme. Based on the respective category of the station,  passenger  amenities  such  as  improvement  to  façade  of  the  station building, retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities), separate waiting room  for  ladies,  computer  based  public  address  system,  landscaping  of circulating area, signages, Pay & Use toilets, water coolers, ramps at entry to station for Divyangjan and Senior Citizens etc. are provided at Railway stations identified and developed under this scheme. Modern  facilities like lifts, escalators, travalators etc. are also set up depending upon the priority of the station concerned.

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