Lok Sabha Question No. 2611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Old and Dirty Railway Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2611 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## OLD AND DIRTY RAILWAY COACHES

2611 DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  observed  that  a  large  number  of trains still run with old unclean coaches;
- (b) if so, the steps taken to modernize the railway coaches;
- (c)  the  steps  and  measures  taken/being  taken  to  increase  women safety in trains along with details thereof;
- (d)  whether  adequate  railway  personnel  are  deployed  for  ensuring women's safety, if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  any  system  is  in  place  for  farmers  to  transport  his agricultural produce through trains for long distances without losing the shelf value of the produce, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken to ensure that trains and railway stations are more accessible to differently abled?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.2611  BY  DR.  K  SUDHAKAR  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.08.2024  REGARDING  OLD  AND DIRTY RAILWAY COACHES

(a)  and  (b):  Replacement/repair  of  coaches  is  a  continuous    process and is carried out based on condition/completing codal life etc.

Indian Railways has proliferated technologically superior LHB coaches with better riding, improved aesthetics and features like Lightweight design,  Anti  climbing  arrangement,  Air  suspension  (Secondary)  with failure indication system, less corrosive shell etc., as compared to the conventional ICF coaches.

Production  of  LHB  coaches  during  2014-24  vis  a  vis  2004-14  is  as under:

| Period   | LHB coaches manufactured         |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 2,337 nos.                       |
| 2014-24  | 36,933 nos. (more than 15 times) |

Further,  Indian  Railways  has  also  introduced  Vande  Bharat  &  Amrit trains  which  have  enhanced  safety  features  and  modern  passenger amenities.

Cleanliness is a continuous process and Indian Railways make every endeavour to keep trains in properly maintained and clean condition. Mechanized cleaning of coaches including toilets of trains is done at both ends. On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) is provided in long distance  trains  for  cleaning  of  coach  toilets,  doorways,  aisles  and passenger compartments during the run of the trains.

Besides,  fitment  of  Bio-Toilets  in  all  passenger  carrying  mainline coaches has been done to eliminate direct discharge of human waste from trains. Provision of Bio-toilets during 2014-24 vis a vis 2004-14 is as under:

| Period   | Provision of Bio toilets in coaches   |
|----------|---------------------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 9,587 nos.                            |
| 2014-24  | 3,10,238 nos. (More than 32 times)    |

(c)  and  (d):  Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India  and,  therefore,  State Governments  are  responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration and  investigation  of  crime  and   maintenance   of  law   and  order on Railways  through  their  law  enforcement  agencies  viz.  Government Railway  Police  (GRP)/District  Police.  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF) supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP/District Police to  provide  better protection  and  security  to  railway  property,  passenger  area  and passengers and for matters connected therewith. Following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP/Local Police for safety  and  security  of  passengers  including  women  passengers  in trains:-

-  On vulnerable and identified routes/sections, trains are escorted by  Railway  Protection  Force  in  addition  to  trains  escorted  by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
-  Under 'Meri Saheli initiative, focused attention has been provided for safety and security of woman passengers  travelling  alone by

- trains  for  their  entire  journey  i.e.  from  originating  station  to destination station.
-  Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into the compartments reserved for ladies.
-  For  immediate  assistance,  passengers  can  make  complaint  on Rail  Madad  Portal  directly  or  through  Helpline  Number  139 (integrated  with  Emergency  Response  Support  System  (ERSS) No.112)
-  Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in a no. of coaches  and  at railway stations for enhanced  security of passengers.
-  Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  through  various social media platforms like Twitter & Facebook etc. to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concerns.
-  State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted for all State/Union Territories under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/Union  Territories  for  regular  monitoring  and  review  of security arrangements of the Railways.

The present strength of women personnel in RPF is highest amongst the CAPFs in India. These women RPF personnel have been specially trained to ensure safety, to provide assistance to female passengers. However, the deployment of RPF staff including women RPF personnel in trains is decided based on the vulnerability of the concerned trains, timing,  location  of  the  area,  threat  perception  of  the  hinterland, analysis of past crime data among others. The deployment of RPF staff

is  assessed  regularly  and  as  per  existing  strength,  optimum  deployment  is made  in  trains  for  prevention  of  crime  in  Railways  in  coordination  with GRP.  Therefore,  the  deployment  of  RPF  personnel  is  dynamic  and keeps changing from time to time.

(e): All passenger/mail express trains have brake vans (SLR) which are available for loading of parcels including perishables. Besides, on the basis of demand and feasibility, railways also attach indented parcel vans,  parcel  vans  (VPs)  on  long  term  basis  (lease)  as  well  as  short term  basis  in  a  number  of  trains  for  carriage  of  parcel  including perishables. Moreover, power has been delegated to Zonal Railways to lower the minimum composition of parcel express for transportation of fruits  and  vegetables.  Also,  50%  concession  is  granted  in  freight  to orange, mango and banana traffic when transported in BCN/BCNA/BCX rakes.

(f):  Indian  Railways  has  been  providing  a  separate  compartment earmarked  for  Persons  with  Disabilities  (Divyangjan)  in  last  vehicle LSLRD/SLRD (Second class cum Luggage cum Guard Van & Disabled Friendly  Compartment)  marshaled  in  almost  all  Mail/Express  trains. These  coaches  have  wider  entrance  doors,  wider  berths,  wider compartments, larger lavatory with wider doors, wheel chair parking area, etc. Inside the toilets, additional grab rails on the side walls for support  and  wash  basin  and  mirror  at  a  suitable  height  are  also available.

Further, Indian  Railways is  committed  to  make  its  railway stations

……5/-

accessible for Persons  with Disabilities (Divyangjan) as part of "Sugamya Bharat Mission" or Accessible India Campaign of Government  of India. The guidelines for accessibility of Indian Railways stations have been notified  in  the  official  Gazette  of  India. These  guidelines  include  provisions  of  Divyangjan  related  facilities such as entrance ramps, accessible parking, low height ticket counter/help booths, toilets, drinking water booth, sub-ways/foot over bridges with ramps/lifts, standard signages including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment etc.

Improvement/augmentation of amenities at Railway stations, including those for Divyangjan is a continuous process.

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