Lok Sabha Question No. 370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Posts Lying Vacant Zone/Division-wise
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 370 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## POSTS LYING VACANT ZONE/DIVISION-WISE

370. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  budgetary  allocation  for  safety  related  activities  and  utilisation thereof during each of the last five years and the current year;
- (b) the reasons for mismatch between allocation and utilisation during the said period;
- (c)  the  number  of  posts  of  various  categories  including  safety  related posts lying vacant, Zone/Division-wise;
- (d)  whether  these  vacant  posts  especially  safety  related  have  severely affected operational performance of the Railways and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Railways to fill up all the vacant posts and also to improve its safety related performance?

## 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. 370 BY SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2024 REGARDING POSTS LYING VACANT ZONE/DIVISION-WISE

(a) to (e): Expenditure on Safety related works/activities during last five years and the current year is as under :

| Year    |   Expenditure (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                        69241 |
| 2020-21 |                        71667 |
| 2021-22 |                        81954 |
| 2022-23 |                        87336 |
| 2023-24 |                       101661 |
| 2024-25 |                        67430 |

The 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'  post.  Accordingly,  eight Centralized Notifications (CENs) for 58642 (including 45186 safety category  post)  vacancies  have  been  notified  during  January  to  October 2024  for  filling  up  of  posts  of  Assistant  Loco  Pilots,  Technicians,  SubInspectors  &  Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF),  Junior Engineers/DMS/CMA, Paramedical Categories, Non-Technical Popular Category (Graduates) & Non-Technical Popular Category (UnderGraduates). Computer based test is scheduled from 25.11.2024 onwards. 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

## Steps/measures taken to improve safety related performance:

-  Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,608 stations up to 31.10.2024 to eliminate accident due to human failure.
-  Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11,053 level Crossing Gates up to 31.10.2024 for enhancing safety at LC gates.

-  Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been provided at 6,619 stations up to 31.10.2024.
-  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  1081  RKm  (705  RKm  on  DelhiMumbai  section  and  376  RKm  on  Delhi-Howrah  section).  Regular trials are being done on these sections.
-  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.
-  System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
-  All  locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
-  Retro-reflective  sigma  boards  are  provided  on  the  mast  which  is located two 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.

-  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.
-  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.
-  Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
-  Maximizing  supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  for  increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby improving safety.
-  Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
-  Laying  of  longer  rails,  minimizing  the  use  of  Alumino  Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
-  Monitoring of track geometry by OMS  (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
- 
- Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
-  The  use  of  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weldable  CMS  Crossing  in turnout renewal works.

-  Inspections  at  regular  intervals  are  carried  out  to  monitor  and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
-  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.
-  Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
-  Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
-  Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done.
-  All  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  route have been eliminated by January 2019.
-  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.
-  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.

-  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.
-  Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
-  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 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     |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Track Renewal (Rs. in Cr.) | 47,038               | 1,09,577             | 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: 3699               | In 2023-24: 481                                  | 87% reduction                   |
| 9.   | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                           | In 2013- 14: 2548               | 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 |
| 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 (LC+ROB+RUB)                      | 8,825                           | 41,957                                           | 4.75 times                      |

|    | Bridge Rehabilitation              | Bridge Rehabilitation   | Bridge Rehabilitation   | Bridge Rehabilitation   |
|----|------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1. | Expenditure on Bridge              | 3,924                   | 8,255                   | 2.10 times              |
|    | 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               |

| SN   | Item                                                                                          | 2004-05 to 2013-14   | 2014-15 to 2023-24   | 2014-24 Vs. 2004- 14   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|------------------------|
|      | 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 coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                          | 0                    | 66,840               |                        |

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