Lok Sabha Question No. 1391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Updated list of Safety Category Posts
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1391

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## UPDATED LIST OF SAFETY CATEGORY POSTS

## 1391. PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) updated  list  of  safety  category  posts  sanctioned  within  the Indian Railways, along with the corresponding number of vacancies as of the latest available data;
- (b) the specific reasons cited by the Government for the prolonged  vacancy  of  over  1.5  lakh  safety  category  posts  despite their sanctioning;
- (c) the  Government  conducted  any  assessments  or  audits  to evaluate  the  impact  of  these  vacancies  on  railway  safety  and operational efficiency and if so, the details of the findings;
- (d) whether the Government  proposes long-term strategy to ensure  that  all  sanctioned  safety  category  posts  in  the  Indian Railways  are  filled  promptly  and  continuously  to  maintain  the highest standards of railway safety; and

(e) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  expedite  the recruitment process and fill the vacant safety category posts in a timely manner?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1391  BY  PROF.  VARSHA  EKNATH GAIKWAD, SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL, SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE,  SHRI  MOHITE  PATIL  DHAIRYASHEEL  RAJSINH,  SHRI NILESH  DNYANDEV  LANKE,  SHRI  AASHTIKAR  PATIL  NAGESH BAPURAO, SMT. SUPRIYA SULE, DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE, SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING UPDATED LIST OF SAFETY CATEGORY POSTS (a)  to  (e)  :  Occurrence  and  filling  up  of  vacancies  are  continuous process on Indian Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and  criticality  of  operation.  Adequate  and  suitable  manpower  is provided to cater to the regular operations, changes in technology, mechanizations and innovative  practices.  The  vacancies  are  filled up primarily by placement of indents by Railways with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological requirements. After  easing  of  restrictions  imposed  on  account  of  COVID  19,  two major examinations involving more than 2.37 crore candidates have been conducted successfully. Computer  Based  Test  (CBT) exam  for more  than 1.26 crore candidates was conducted in 7 phases from 28.12.2020 to 31.07.2021  in  133  shifts  in  68  days  across  211  cities  and  726

centres.

Similarly, CBT was conducted for more than 1.1 crore candidates in 5  phases  from  17.08.2022  to  11.10.2022  in  99  shifts  in  33  days across 191 cities and 551 centres.

Based on these exams, 1,30,581 candidates have been recruited in railways.

The RRB examinations are quite technical in nature entailing large scale mobilization of men and resources and training of manpower. Railway overcame all these challenges and successfully conducted the  recruitment  in  a  transparent  manner  following  all  laid  down guidelines. No instance of paper leakage or similar malpractice has occurred during the entire process.

Recruitment  done  in  Indian  Railways  during  2004-2014  vis-à-vis during  2014  -  2024  is  given  as  under.  Majority  of  the  recruitment done is in safety categories.

| Period   | Recruitments   |
|----------|----------------|
| 2004-14  | 4.11 lakh      |
| 2014-24  | 5.02 lakh      |

Further,  as  system  improvement,  the  Ministry  of  Railways  has introduced  a  system  of  publishing  annual  calendar  this  year  for recruitment  to  various  categories  of  Group  'C'  posts.  Accordingly, five Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 40,554

vacancies have been notified during January to July 2024 for filling up of posts of Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians, Sub-Inspectors & Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF),  Junior  Engineers, Depot  Material  Superintendents  and  Chemical  and  Metallurgical Supervisors.  The  introduction  of  annual  calendar  will  benefit  the aspirants in the following manner:

-  More opportunities for candidates;
-  Opportunities to those becoming eligible every year;
-  Certainty of exams;
-  Faster Recruitment process, Training and Appointments

Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  on  Indian  Railways.  The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train operations are as under:-

1. On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related works has increased over the years as under:
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems  with  centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,589
3. stations up to 30.06.2024 to eliminate accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 11,048  level  Crossing  Gates  up  to  30.06.2024  for  enhancing safety at LC gates.
4. Complete  Track  Circuiting  of  stations  to  enhance  safety  by verification of track occupancy by electrical means has been provided at 6,609 stations up to 30.06.2024.
5. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires  safety  certification  of  highest  order.  Kavach  was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach has so far  been  deployed  on  1,465  Route  km  and  144  locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South  Central Railway.  Kavach is provided progressively in phased manner.
6. Axle counters for Automatic clearance of Block Section, BPAC (Block Proving Axle Counter) are provided to ensure complete arrival of train without manual intervention before granting line clear  to  receive  next  train  and  to  reduce  human  element. These  systems  have  been  provided  on  6,079  Block  Sections upto 30.06.2024.
7. A  project  for  provision  of  Long  Term  Evolution  (LTE)  based Mobile Train Radio Communication system has been approved for 34,803 Rkms over Indian Railways.
8. The project for  provision  of  Tunnel  Communication  has  been taken up in various Zonal Railways.
9. Emergency  talk-back  system  and  Emergency  Alarm  Systems have been provided in Vande Bharat Train sets.
10. CCTVs  have  been  provided  in  all  Vande  Bharat  Express coaches.  Till date more than 9,572 coaches are equipped with CCTV.
11. 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.
12. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
13. All  locomotives  are  equipped  with  Vigilance  Control  Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
14. Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is  located  two  OHE  masts  prior  to  the  signals  in  electrified
16. territories  to  alert  the  crew  about  the  signal  ahead  when visibility is low due to foggy weather.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
18. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing  progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of joints, thereby improving safety.
19. Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
20. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
21. Monitoring  of  track  geometry  by  OMS  (Oscillation  Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
22. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
23. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works.
24. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
25. 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.
26. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
27. Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
28. Replacement  of  conventional  ICF  design  coaches  with  LHB design coaches is being done.
29. All  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG) route have been eliminated by January 2019.
30. 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.
31. Indian  Railways  has  displayed  Statutory  'Fire  Notices'  for widespread passenger information in all coaches. Fire posters are  provided  in  every  coach  so  as  to  educate  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.
32. 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.
33. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
34. Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette notification dated

| Year    | Expenditure (in ₹ crores)   |
|---------|-----------------------------|
| 2022-23 | 87,336                      |
| 2023-24 | 98,414 (RE)                 |
| 2024-25 | 1,08,795 (BE)               |

30.11.2023,  wherein  work  of  integrated  maintenance/  repair/ replacement of assets is planned up to 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

The details of the Safety related works undertaken by Railways are tabulated below:

| SN                | Item                                                          | 2004-05 to 2013-14   | 2014-15 to 2023-24     | 2014-24 vs 2004- 14   |
|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
| Track Maintenance | Track Maintenance                                             | Track Maintenance    | Track Maintenance      | Track Maintenance     |
| 1.                | Expenditure on Track Renewal (Rs. in Cr.)                     | 47,018               | 1,09,659               | 2.33 times            |
| 2.                | Rail Renewal Primary (Track Km)                               | 32,260               | 43,335                 | 1.34 times            |
| 3.                | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg) (Km)                        | 57,450               | 1,23,717               | 2.15 times            |
| 4.                | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                                | 9,917                | 68,233                 | 6.88 times            |
| 5.                | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Rails (Track km) | 20,19,630            | 26,52,291              | 1.31 times            |
| 6.                | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.)     | 79,43,940            | 1,73,06,046            | 2.17 times            |
| 7.                | New Track KM added (Track km)                                 | 14,985               | 31,180                 | 2.08 times            |
| 8.                | Weld failures (Nos.)                                          | In 2013-14: 3,699    | In 2023-24: 481        | 87% reduction         |
| 9.                | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                         | In 2013-14: 2,548    | In 2023-24: 383        | 85% reduction         |
| 10                | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                     | Nil                  | 21,127                 |                       |
| 11                | Track Machines (Nos.)                                         | As on 31.03.14 = 748 | As on 31.03.24 = 1,661 | 122% increase         |

| Level Crossing Gate Elimination   | Level Crossing Gate Elimination                                                               | Level Crossing Gate Elimination   | Level Crossing Gate Elimination                  | Level Crossing Gate Elimination   |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1.                                | Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                                           | As on 31.03.14: 8948              | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | 100% reduction                    |
| 2.                                | Elimination of Manned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                                             | 1,137                             | 7,075                                            | 6.21 Times                        |
| 3.                                | Road over Bridges (RoBs)/ Road under Bridges (RUBs) (Nos.)                                    | 4,148                             | 11,945                                           | 2.88 Times                        |
| 4.                                | Expenditure on LC Elimination                                                                 | 5,726                             | 36,699                                           | 6.40 Times                        |
| Bridge Rehabilitation             | Bridge Rehabilitation                                                                         | Bridge Rehabilitation             | Bridge Rehabilitation                            | Bridge Rehabilitation             |
| 1.                                | Expenditure on Bridge Rehabilitation (Rs. in Cr.)                                             | 3,919                             | 8,008                                            | 2 Times                           |
| Signalling Works                  | Signalling Works                                                                              | Signalling Works                  | Signalling Works                                 | Signalling Works                  |
| 1.                                | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                                                            | 837                               | 2,964                                            | 3.52 times                        |
| 2.                                | Automatic Block Signaling (Km)                                                                | 1,486                             | 2,497                                            | 1.67 times                        |
| 3.                                | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                                                                | As on 31.03.14: 90                | As on 31.03.24: 19,742                           | 219 times                         |
| Rolling Stock                     | Rolling Stock                                                                                 | Rolling Stock                     | Rolling Stock                                    | Rolling Stock                     |
| 1.                                | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                                                             | 2,337                             | 36,933                                           | 15.80 times                       |
| 2.                                | Provision of Fire and Smoke Detection System in AC coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                  | 0                                 | 19,271                                           |                                   |
| 3.                                | Provision of Fire Detection and Suppression System in Pantry and Power Cars (Nos. of Coaches) | 0                                 | 2,991                                            |                                   |
| 4.                                | Provision of Fire Extinguishers in Non -AC                                                    | 0                                 | 66,840                                           |                                   |

|                   | coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                                   |                   |                   |                   |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Budget allocation | Budget allocation                                           | Budget allocation | Budget allocation | Budget allocation |
| 1                 | Gross Budgetary Support for Railway Investment (Rs. in Cr.) | 1,56,739          | 8,25,967          | 5.3 times         |

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