Lok Sabha Question No. 1702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Rail Accident in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey, S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1702 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2023

## RAIL ACCIDENT

1702. SHRI RITESH PANDEY: MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the findings of a 2022 report on derailments and other safety concerns of Railways by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG);
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  steps  that  the  Government  has  taken  to  ensure timely  accident  inquiries,  enhance  safety  measures  in  the  railway network, deployment of RRSK funds and develop a strong monitoring mechanism to ensure timely implementation of maintenance activities;
- (c) whether the Government has outlined any comprehensive action plan or roadmap to prevent future derailments and improve safety measures  within  the  railway  network,  in  view  of  the  recent  tragic accident in Balasore; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(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 1702 BY SHRI RITESH PANDEY AND MS. S. JOTHIMANI TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  13.12.2023 REGARDING RAIL ACCIDENT

(a) to (d): Consequential train accidents have declined over the years, as shown by the graph below:-

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The  average  number  of  consequential  train  accidents  during  the period,  2004-14  was  171  per  annum,  while  the  average  number  of consequential train accidents during the period, 2014-23 has declined to 71 per annum.

The following steps have been taken by the Government to enhance safety and to prevent train accidents:

1. Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh  (RRSK)  has  been  introduced  in 2017-18  for  replacement/renewal/upgradation  of  critical  safety assets, with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore for five years. From 201718  till  2021-22,  a  Gross  expenditure  of  Rs.  1.08  lakh  crore  was incurred  on  RRSK  works.  In  2022-23,  the  Govt.  extended  the currency  of  RRSK  for  another  period  of  five  years  with  Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs. 45,000 crores.
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6498 stations  upto  31.10.2023  to  eliminate  accident  due  to  human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11137 level Crossing Gates up to 31.10.2023 for enhancing safety
4. at LC gates.
4. Complete  Track  Circuiting  of  stations  to  enhance  safety  for verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been
6. provided at 6548 stations upto 31.10.2023.
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
19. 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
28. 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  introduced  in  Indian  Railways  (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette  notification dated 30.11.2023, wherein work of maintenance/repair/replacement is planned for 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

Investigations  in  train  accidents  are  carried  out  in  stipulated  time  line. The progress of investigation is monitored closely for expeditious finalization of accident inquiries.

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