Lok Sabha Question No. 154 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Collisions of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Durai Vaiko, Shri Matheswaran V S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 154

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## COLLISIONS OF TRAINS

## *154.  SHRI MATHESWARAN V S: SHRI DURAI VAIKO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  number  of  collisions  occurred  involving  running train,  vehicles  or  pedestrians  at  the  railway  gate  crossings during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  including  the recent one at Cuddalore, Southern Railway;
- (b) whether it is a fact that the manned level crossing gate at the Semmankuppam location was open at the time of the collision of train with the school van;
- (c) if  so,  whether  human negligence and the absence of automatic interlocking systems were identified as causes of the accident, if so,  the  number  of  students  died  and  got  injured  in  the  said
- collision;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  a  high-level  inquiry  to ascertain  responsibility  and  identify  systemic  safety  lapses  at the said railway gate and taken action against officers responsible for the same and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of the total number of manned railway gates in Tamil Nadu;
- (f) whether the Government will now expedite the automation of all manned  railway  crossings  across  Tamil  Nadu  especially  those near schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (g) the amount of compensation and support extended to the victims families and measures planned to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future; and

(h) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  expeditious construction of under-pass at the level crossing at Cuddalore?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  TO  (h)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025.

(a)  to  (h):  Safety  is  accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of various safety measures taken over the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents. Consequential  Train  Accidents,  which  include  collisions  also,  have reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25 as shown in the graph below.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  Consequential  Train  Accidents  during the  period  2004-14  was  1711  (average  171  per  annum),  which  has declined to 31 in 2024-25 and further to 3 in 2025-26 (upto June).

Another important index showing improved safety in train operations is Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) which has  reduced  from  0.11  in  2014-15  to  0.03  in  2024-25,  indicating  an improvement of approx. 73% during the said period.

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During  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  2025-26  (upto 20 th July 2025), total 3 consequential train accidents involving collision  on  Manned  Level  Crossings  Gates  took  place  on  Indian Railways.

A Collision incident of a school bus with the passenger train (DN 56813 Passenger) took place in the morning of 08.07.2025 at the noninterlocked Manned  Level  Crossing  (MLC)  Gate  no.  170  on  the Villupuram  -  Mayiladuturai  Section  of  Tiruchchirappalli  Division  of Southern Railway. In the said incident, 3 persons lost their lives and 3 persons sustained simple injuries. Inquiry has been set up to investigate the accident.

Accident victims are paid ex-gratia relief soon after an accident or  untoward  incident.  The  total  amount  of  ex-gratia  paid  by  the Railways to the next of kin of  deceased and injured victims in train accidents involving accidents at level crossings during the last three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25 is Rs.16 Lakh. In the Cuddalore collision case, an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 11 Lakh has been paid to the next of kin of deceased and injured individuals.

## Interlocking/Elimination of Level Crossings

Interlocking of level crossing gate is a mechanism which ensures that  signals  protecting  LC  Gate  can  only  be  displayed  for  a  train  to proceed when the route is clear and the level crossing gate is closed and locked. It ensures safe passage of trains and road traffic.

Interlocking of Level Crossing Gates is provided based on traffic density  and  various  aspects  of  train  operations  as  per  provision  of

Indian Railway Signal Engineering Manual (IRSEM). Interlocking of LC Gates is a continuous and ongoing process.

Presently 11,096 manned level crossing gates have been interlocked  on  Indian  Railways.  In  Tamil  Nadu,  1,053  manned  level crossing gates have been interlocked so far out of total 1,255 manned level  crossing  gates  in  the  State.  Further,  the  interlocking  work  has been taken up at 72 manned level crossings in the State.

All Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) on running lines of Broad Gauge  (BG)  network  of  Indian  Railways  have  been  eliminated  by 31.01.2019.

## Construction of Road over Bridges/Road under Bridges

Level  Crossings  (LCs)  are  eliminated  either  by  providing  Road over  Bridges/  Road  under  Bridges  (ROBs/  RUBs)  in  lieu  of  LCs  or through  direct  closure  (for  low  traffic  LCs)  or  by  diversion  of  road traffic to nearby ROB/RUB/LC depending upon the site conditions.

Sanctioning and execution of works of Road Over Bridges/ Road Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs) in lieu of LCs is a continuous and ongoing process on Indian Railways. Such works are prioritized and taken up on  the  basis  of  its  impact  on  safety  and  mobility  in  train  operations and impact on road users.

Nos.  of  ROBs/  RUBs  constructed  on  Indian  Railways  during  the period 2004-14 vis-a-vis 2014-25 (June'25) is as under:

| Period   | ROBs/ RUBs constructed   |
|----------|--------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 4,148 Nos.               |

2014-25

(June'25)

## 13,426 Nos. (including 747 Nos. in the State of Tamil Nadu)

As on 01.04.2025, 4,402 Nos. ROBs/ RUBs are sanctioned at the cost  of  Rs.  1,00,860  Cr  on  Indian  Railways  including  235  Nos.  Road Over Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) at the cost of Rs. 4,669 crore  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  which  are  at  various  stages  of planning and execution.

There are 92 Nos. LCs in Cuddalore district, out of which 11 Nos. LCs  were  sanctioned  for  elimination  by  ROB/RUB.  However,  due  to Non-receipt of consent for LC closure for construction of RUB from the Govt. of Tamil Nadu, 07 Nos. RUB works including RUB in lieu of LC No. 170 could not be taken up.

Nevertheless,  State  Govt  is  being  continuously  requested  to grant the required consent for the closure of the aforesaid LC gates so that construction of ROB/RUBs in lieu of LC gates can be taken up.

Completion  and  commissioning  of  ROB/RUB  works  depend  on various factors like cooperation of State Governments in giving   consent  for  closure  of  LCs,   fixing  of  approach  alignment, approval  of  General  Arrangement  Drawing  (GAD),  land  acquisition, removal  of  encroachments,  shifting  of  infringing  utilities,  statutory clearances  from  various  authorities,   law  and  order  situation  in  the area of project/work sites,  duration of working season in a year for the particular  project/area   due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.   All  these factors affect the completion time of the projects /works.

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