Lok Sabha Question No. 3295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Railway Safety Challenges
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## RAILWAY SAFETY CHALLENGES

†3295.   SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Indian  Railways  to  prevent derailment,  Signal  Passing  at  Danger  (SPAD)  and  other  types  of accidents; and (b)  the  type  of  assistance  for  which  UIC  World  Safety  Congress  has consented to provide to deal with railway safety challenges?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) & (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  3295  BY  SHRI  ANIL  FIROJIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.08.2023  REGARDING  RAILWAY SAFETY CHALLENGES

- (a):  The following measures have been taken by the Indian Railways to improve safety in train operations:
1. Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh  (RRSK)  has  been  introduced  in 2017-18  for  replacement/renewal/upgradation  of  critical  safety assets, with a corpus of `1 lakh crore for five years. From 2017-18 till  2021-22,  a  Gross  expenditure  of  Rs.  1.08  lakh  crore  was incurred on RRSK works.
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6427 stations  upto  31.05.2023  to  eliminate  accident  due  to  human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11093 level Crossing Gates up to 31.05.2023 for enhancing safety at LC gates.
4. Complete  Track  Circuiting  of  stations  to  enhance  safety  for verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been provided at 6377 stations upto 31.05.2023.
5. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signalling e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.
6. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
7. All  locomotives  are  equipped  with  Vigilance  Control  Devices (VCD) to ensure alertness of Loco Pilots.
8. Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is located two  OHE  masts  prior  to  the signals in electrified territories  to  warn  the  crew  about  the  signal  ahead  when visibility is low due to foggy weather.
- 9.
- A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog  affected  areas  which  enables  loco  pilots  to  know  the
- distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates etc.
10. Modern track structure consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide  base  sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fanshaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on  girder  bridges  is  used  while  carrying  out  primary  track renewals.
11. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
12. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for  increasing progress of rail renewal and avoiding welding of joints, thereby ensuring safety.
13. Laying  of  longer  rails,  minimizing  the  use  of  Alumino  Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
14. Monitoring  of  track  geometry  by  OMS  (Oscillation  Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
15. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
16. The use of Thick  Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works.
17. Inspections  at  regular  intervals  are  carried  out  to  monitor  and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
18. Web based online monitoring system of track assets viz. Track database  and  decision  support  system  has  been  adopted  to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
19. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Track e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety,  monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
20. Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations and to keep a check on Rail Accidents across the country.
21. Replacement  of  conventional  ICF  design  coaches  with  LHB design coaches is being done.
22. All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have been eliminated by January 2019.
23. Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken  up  based  upon  the  conditions  assessed  during  these inspections.
24. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory 'Fire Notices' for widespread  passenger  information  in  all  coaches.  Fire  posters are provided in every coach so as to inform and alert passengers regarding various Do's and Don'ts to prevent fire. These include messages  regarding  not  carrying  any  inflammable  material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.
25. Production  Units  are  providing  Fire  detection  and  suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and  Smoke  detection  system  in  newly  manufactured  coaches. Progressive  fitment  of  the  same  in  existing  coaches  is  also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner.
- 26.
- Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
27. Concept  of  Rolling  Block  has  been  introduced  wherein  work  of maintenance/repair/  replacement  is  planned  for  2  weeks  in
- advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

Besides,  for  preventing  SPAD,  Safety  drives  on  SPAD  are  launched from  time  to  time.  There  is  emphasis  on  counseling  of  Loco  Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots and their families for taking adequate and proper rest before duty. Periodical review of SPAD cases is also done at the level  of  Divisions,  Zonal  Headquarters  as  well  as  at  the  level  of

Railway Board.

- (b):    International  Union  of  Railways (UIC) is an association of World Railways  engaged  in  enhancing  cooperation  among  members.  At present,  there  is  no  arrangement  of  assistance  regarding  Railway Safety challenges between UIC and Indian Railways.

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