Lok Sabha Question No. 910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Security Level of Train Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 910 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## SECURITY LEVEL OF TRAIN PASSENGERS

## 910. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken initiatives to strengthen the security level of train passengers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of proposal to install Emergency SOS system in compartments for use of passengers particularly women;
- (d) whether steps have been taken by the Government to introduce exclusive reserved compartments for women only in long distance trains; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (e):  '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.

The following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP for safety and security of passengers including women passengers travelling in trains:-

1. 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.
2. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in number of coaches and at railway stations.
3. 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].
4. Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  through  various  social media platforms like twitter & facebook to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concern.
5. Frequent  announcements  are  made  through  Public  Address  System  to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
6. 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.
7. Under  'Meri  Saheli'  initiative,  focused  attention  has  been  provided  for safety and security of lady passengers travelling alone by long distance trains for their entire journey i.e. from originating station to destination station.
8. An MoU has been signed between National Commission for Women (NCW) and RPF for capacity building of RPF personnel to prevent crime against women.
9. Drives are conducted  against entry of male passengers into the compartment reserved for women and legal action is taken against the offenders under the provisions of Railways Act, 1989.

Improvement/up-gradation of Rolling Stock to enhance safety and comfort of passengers is a continuous and ongoing process on Indian Railways. Accordingly, Vande Bharat trains are equipped with four Emergency Talk Back Units  in  every  coach,  enabling  passengers  to  communicate  with  the  Train Manager/Loco Pilot in case of exigencies. Passenger Emergency Alarm Buttons have also been provided in Vande Bharat trains, with four such buttons in each coach for emergency use.

Provisioning of Panic Button in coaches is covered in RDSO's specification no. RDSO/SPN/TC/106/2025  version  3.1  for  Internet  Protocol  (IP)  based  Video Surveillance System for Rolling Stock of Indian Railways.

Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989 provides for earmarking of accommodation for  female  passengers  in  trains.  Accordingly,  in  trains  carrying  passengers, Indian Railways has earmarked following accommodation for female passengers:

- i. A  reservation  quota  of  six  berths  in  sleeper  class  in  long  distance Mail/Express trains and a reservation quota of six berths in 3AC class of all Rajdhani/Duronto/fully Air Conditioned/Express trains has been earmarked for female passengers irrespective of their age, travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.
- ii. A combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) has been earmarked  for  senior  citizens,  female  passengers  45  years  of  age  and above and pregnant women.
- iii. Accommodation is also earmarked for female passengers in the unreserved coaches of Mail/Express trains.
- iv. Separate compartments/coaches have been earmarked in suburban trains for exclusive use of female passengers.
- v. Ladies special services are operated on the suburban sections of Mumbai, Kolkata,  Secunderabad  and  Chennai  as  well  as  on  the  Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) sections.

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