Lok Sabha Question No. 3048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Railway Safety and Accident Prevention Initiatives
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3048

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026

## RAILWAY SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION INITIATIVES

## †3048. DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of railway accidents that occurred during the last four years and the current year along with the number of deaths and injuries caused by these accidents;
- (b)  the  details  of  specific  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance railway safety infrastructure and prevent railway accidents along with the financial outlay for these steps;
- (c) the details of the National  Rail Safety  Fund  including  the  total allocation,  expenditure  incurred  till  date  and  specific  projects  funded under this fund for the purpose of upgrading critical safety assets;
- (d) the details of major improvements witnessed in railway safety parameters during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the details and number of weld failures and rail fractures during the last five  years,  along  with  steps  taken  to  enhance  track  maintenance including  use  of  higher  quality  rails,  longer  rail  panels  and  ultrasonic flaw detection testing?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of various safety measures taken over the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents.

Number  of  Consequential  Train  Accidents  has  reduced  as  shown  in  the table below:-

| Year                      | Consequential Accidents   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15                   | 135                       |
| 2025-26 (upto 28.02.2026) | 14 (90% lesser)           |

Another important index showing improvement in safety in train operations is Consequential Accident Index, the details of which are as under:-

Consequential Accident Index:-

| Year    | Accident Index    |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2014-15 | 0.11              |
| 2024-25 | 0.03 (73% lesser) |

This index measures number of consequential accidents as a ratio of total running kilometers of all trains.

No. of consequential accidents

No. of trains X million kilometers run

2025-26

## Accident Index   =

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Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties (including railway passengers and railway personnel) therein are as follows:-

| Period             | No. of Consequential Train Accidents   |   No. of Deaths | No. of Injuries   |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2004-05 to 2013-14 | 1,711                                  |             904 | 3,155             |
| 2014-15 to 2023-24 | 678                                    |             748 | 2,087             |
| 2024-25            | 31                                     |              18 | 92                |

The various safety measures, including track maintenance, 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 6,665 stations up to 28.02.2026 to reduce accidents due to human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at  10,153 Level Crossing Gates up to 28.02.2026 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  6,669 stations up to 28.02.2026.
5. Indian Railways has gone for implementation of indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which required safety certification  of  highest  order  (SIL  4).  Kavach  has  been  adopted  as  a National ATP system in July 2020.

| Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                                                        | 2022-23                                                        | 2023-24                                                        | 2024-25                                                        | 2025-26                                                        | 2026-27                                                        |
| 39,200                                                         | 87,336                                                         | 1,01,662                                                       | 1,14,022                                                       | 1,17,693                                                       | 1,20,389                                                       |

After  extensive  and  elaborate  trials,  Kavach  Version  4.0  has  been successfully commissioned on 1452 Route Kilometres, covering the high density  Delhi-Mumbai  and  Delhi-Howrah  routes.  On  the  Delhi-Mumbai route Kavach ver 4.0 has been commissioned on Junction cabin-PalwalMathura-Nagda section (667 Rkm) & Vadodara- Virar section (336 Rkm), and  Vadodara-Ahmedabad  section  (96  Rkm)  and  on  the  Delhi-Howrah route  Kavach  ver  4.0  has  been  commissioned  on  Gaya  Sarmatanr section  (93  Rkm)  and  Chota  Ambana-Bardhaman  Howrah  section  (260 Rkm).

Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 24,427 RKM covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways.

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  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 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 PQRS, 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  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  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.
29. 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 related to better maintenance practices,  Technological  improvements,  better  infrastructure  and  rolling stock etc. undertaken by Railways are tabulated below:-

| S.N.   | Item                                   | 2004-05 to 2013-14         | 2014-15 to 2024-25          | 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                  | 1.43 Lakh Km                | More than 2 times          |
| 2.     | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)         | 9,917 Km                   | 77,522 Km                   | Nearly 8 times             |
| 3.     | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)     | 837 Stations               | 3,691 Stations              | More than 4 times          |
| 4.     | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)         | As on 31.03.14: 90 Nos.    | As on 31.03.25: 25,939 Nos. | 288 times                  |
| 5.     | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)              | Nil                        | 28,301 Nos.                 |                            |

|    | Better Maintenance Practices                              | Better Maintenance Practices   | Better Maintenance Practices                    | Better Maintenance Practices   |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 1. | Primary Rail Renewal (Track Km)                           | 32,260 Km                      | 49,941 Km                                       | 1.5 times                      |
| 2. | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 Lakh                     | 2 Crore                                         | More than 2 times              |
| 3. | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013-14: 3699 Nos.          | In 2024-25: 370 Nos.                            | 90% reduction                  |
| 4. | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013-14: 2548 Nos.          | In 2024-25: 289 Nos.                            | More than 88% reduction        |
|    | Better Maintenance Practices                              | Better Maintenance Practices   | Better Maintenance Practices                    | Better Maintenance Practices   |
| 1. | New Track KM added (Track Km)                             | 14,985 Km                      | 34,428 Km                                       | More than 2 times              |
| 2. | Flyovers (RoBs)/ Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.)                | 4,148 Nos.                     | 13,808 Nos.                                     | More than 3 times              |
| 3. | Unmanned Level crossings (Nos.) on BG                     | As on 31.03.14: 8,948          | As on 31.03.24:Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed                        |
| 4. | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                         | 2,337 Nos.                     | 42,677                                          | More than 18 times             |

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