Lok Sabha Question No. 5231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Unreserved Tickets issued for Kumbh Special Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5231 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## UNRESERVED TICKETS ISSUED FOR KUMBH SPECIAL TRAIN

5231. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of unreserved tickets issued per hour for the Kumbh Special train, which was a key factor in the Delhi stampede incident;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  addressing  the  recent  railway  accidents caused by human error, infrastructure  failure and track  defects  ensuring that  comprehensive  safety  measures  are  put  in  place  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c) the manner in which the Government plan to promote the electrification of railway tracks reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c):  The  details  of  general  class  tickets  sold  during  Feb  2025  from New Delhi Railway station are as under:

| Average general tickets in Feb'2025   | 40,334 tickets                                                                                                        |
|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tickets sold on 15/02/2025            | 49,041 tickets (only about 8700 tickets more)                                                                         |
| Special trains planned for 15/02/2025 | 5 special trains with a planned capacity of 15,000 passengers which were sufficient to carry an extra 8700 passengers |

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 activities has increased over the years as under:
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,623  stations  up  to 28.02.2025 to eliminate accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11,089 level Crossing Gates up to 28.02.2025 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 6,631 stations up to 28.02.2025.
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 is provided progressively in phased manner. Kavach has already been deployed on 1548 RKm on South Central Railway and North Central Railway. Presently, the work  is  in  progress  on  Delhi-Mumbai  and  Delhi-Howrah  corridors (approximately  3000  Route  Km).  Track  side  works  on  these  routes have been completed on about 2066 RKm. Regular trials are being
6. done on these sections.
6. 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.
7. System  of  disconnection  and  reconnection  for  Signal  &  Telecom (S&T) equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
8. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
9. Retro-reflective  sigma  boards  are  provided  on  the  mast  which  is located two Over Head Equipment (OHE) masts prior to the signals in electrified territories to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather.
10. 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.
11. Modern  track  structure  consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed 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.
12. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like  Plasser  Quick  Relaying  System  (PQRS),  Track  Relaying  Train (TRT), T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
13. Maximizing  supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  for  increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby improving safety.
14. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
15. Laying  of  longer  rails,  minimizing  the  use  of  Alumino  Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash
17. Butt Welding.
16. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
18. The  use  of  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weldable  CMS  Crossing  in turnout renewal works.
19. Inspections  at  regular  intervals  are  carried  out  to  monitor  and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
20. 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.
21. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
22. Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
23. Replacement  of  conventional  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF)  design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done.
24. All  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  route have been eliminated by January 2019.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
31. Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette  notification dated 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
29. per plan.

| Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Crore)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                           | 2013-14 (Actual)                                          | 2022-23 (Actual)                                          | 2023-24 (Actual)                                          | RE 2024-25                                                | BE 2025-26                                                |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way & Works                      | 9,172                                                     | 18,115                                                    | 20,322                                                    | 21,800                                                    | 23,316                                                    |
| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock             | 14,796                                                    | 27,086                                                    | 30,864                                                    | 31,540                                                    | 30,666                                                    |
| Maintenance of Machines                                   | 5,406                                                     | 9,828                                                     | 10,772                                                    | 12,112                                                    | 12,880                                                    |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/ RUBs                            | 1,986                                                     | 5,347                                                     | 6,662                                                     | 8,184                                                     | 7,706                                                     |
| Track Renewals                                            | 4,985                                                     | 16,326                                                    | 17,850                                                    | 22,669                                                    | 22,800                                                    |
| Bridge Works                                              | 390                                                       | 1,050                                                     | 1,907                                                     | 2,130                                                     | 2,169                                                     |
| Signal & Telecom Works                                    | 905                                                       | 2,456                                                     | 3,751                                                     | 6,006                                                     | 6,800                                                     |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety       | 1,823                                                     | 7,119                                                     | 9,523                                                     | 9,581                                                     | 10,134                                                    |
| Total                                                     | 39,463                                                    | 87,327                                                    | 1,01,651                                                  | 1,14,022                                                  | 1,16,470                                                  |

The details of the Safety related works related to better maintenance practices, Technological improvements, better infrastructure and rolling stock etc. undertaken by Railways are tabulated below:-

| S.No.   | Item                                                      | 2004-05 to 2013-14                      | 2014-15 to 2024-25 ( till January 25)            | 2014-25 Vs. 2004-14                     |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|         | Technological improvements                                | Technological improvements              | Technological improvements                       | Technological improvements              |
| 1       | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg) (Km)                    | 57,450 km                               | 1.4 lakh km                                      | More than 2 times                       |
| 2       | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                            | 9,917 km                                | 76,000 km                                        | More than 7 times                       |
| 3       | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                        | 837 stations                            | 3,243 stations                                   | 4 times                                 |
| 4       | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                            | As on 31.03.14: 90 nos.                 | As on 31.01.25: 25,293                           | 281 times                               |
| 5       | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                 | Nil                                     | 27,079 nos.                                      |                                         |
|         | Better maintenance practices                              | Better maintenance practices            | Better maintenance practices                     | Better maintenance practices            |
| 1       | PrimaryRail Renewal (Track Km)                            | 32,260 km                               | 49,000 km                                        | 1.5 times                               |
| 2       | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 lakh                              | 1.9 crore                                        | More than 2 times                       |
| 3       | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013-14: 3699 nos.                   | In 2024-25: 301 nos.                             | 92 % reduction                          |
| 4       | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013-14: 2548 nos.                   | In 2024-25: 243 nos.                             | 91% reduction                           |
|         | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock                   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock          | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock |
| 1       | New Track KM added (Track km)                             | 14,985 nos.                             | 34,000 km                                        | More than 2 times                       |
| 2       | Flyovers (RoBs)/ Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.)                | 4,148 nos.                              | 12,771 nos.                                      | More than 3 times                       |
| 3       | Unmanned Level crossings ( nos.) on BG                    | As on 31.03.14: 8948                    | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed                                 |
| 4       | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                         | 2,337 nos.                              | 41,551                                           | More than 17 times                      |

Currently, about 98% of the Indian Railways' (IR) Broad Gauge (BG) network  has  been  electrified  and  balance  sections  have  been  taken  up. Significant  progress  has  been  made  in  railway  electrification  in  recent years, a comparison of electrification before and after 2014 is as follows:

| Period                        | Route Kilometer   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------|
| Before 2014 (about 60 years)  | 21,801            |
| 2014-25 (upto February, 2025) | 45,922            |

Electrification  of Railway network helps in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emission. CO2 emissions in transportation by railways as compared to transportation by road is as under:

| Mode of Transportation   | CO2 emission for transportation of 1 tonne for 1 km   |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Road                     | 101 gm                                                |
| Rail                     | 11.5 gm (about 89% less)                              |

Also,  by  adopting  electrification,  IR  has  witnessed  reduction  in  fuel consumption  for  traction  purpose  by  136  crore  litres  during  2023-24  as compared to 2018-19.

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