Lok Sabha Question No. 599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Incidents of Signal Passing
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal, Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## INCIDENTS OF SIGNAL PASSING

†599.  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of incidents of signal passing at danger or jumping red signal have increased across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any preventive steps to check train accidents in the country;  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.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  599  BY  DR.  SANJAY  JAISWAL  AND SHRI  SRIDHAR  KOTAGIRI  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 06.12.2023 REGARDING INCIDENTS OF SIGNAL PASSING

(a) & (b): Signal Passing at Danger is not an accident but is treated as an indicative accident which is a potential hazard. The number of cases  of  Signal  Passing  at  Danger  (SPAD)  during  2022-23  has decreased. Figures are as under:-

| Financial Year      |   Number of cases |
|---------------------|-------------------|
| 2019-20             |                60 |
| 2020-21(Covid year) |                36 |
| 2021-22(Covid year) |                41 |
| 2022-23             |                37 |

- (c) & (d): The following measures have been taken by the Government to enhance 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 201718 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  6498 stations up to 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 at LC gates.
4. Complete  Track  Circuiting  of  stations  to  enhance  safety  for verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been provided at 6548 stations up to 31.10.2023.
5. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signaling 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, Pre-stressed Concrete  Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base sleepers with elastic fastening, fan shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on  girder  bridges  is  used  while  carrying  out  primary  track renewals.
11. Mechanization  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 introduced wherein work of integrated maintenance/repair/replacement  of  fixed  assets  (Permanent way, Signalling and Traction Distribution, etc) is planned for 12 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

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