Lok Sabha Question No. 4298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Accidents during Track Maintenance
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4298

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## ACCIDENTS DURING TRACK MAINTENANCE

## 4298. DR. KAKOLI GHOSH DASTIDAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  data  on  accidents  that  occurred during maintenance of railway tracks;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (c) the details of railway staff injured and died in such accidents; and
- (d)  whether there is any compensation mechanism for such losses and if so, the details (in Rs.) for the last eleven years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d) Following measures have been taken for the safety and welfare of track maintenance employees:
1.  Track  maintainers  have  been  equipped  with  essential  safety  gears while working in hazardous environments. The major safety equipment  like  Retro  Reflective  Safety  Jackets  (Luminous  Vests), Safety  Shoes,  Gloves,  Safety  Helmet  with  detachable  miner's  light, Tricolour  Light  Emitting  Diode  (LED)  3  cell  torch,  Rain  Coat,  Winter Jacket etc. have been provided to them.
2.  In  order  to  enhance  efficiency  and  reduce  physical  strain  of  these employees, Light Weight Tools and equipment like Spanner, Hammer, Crowbar  etc. have been  provided. In addition, battery/hydraulic operated  machines  and  automated  systems  have  been  devised  for

light  maintenance tasks like extracting/ inserting fittings, tightening bolts, lubrication of rails joints etc. to minimize physical fatigue and improve productivity.

3.  Mechanized  maintenance  of  tracks  using  various  types  of  Track Machines have been introduced for all types of strenuous jobs such as tamping,  ballast  cleaning,  lifting  &  aligning  of  track  as  well  as grinding,  cutting,  drilling  of  rails  etc.  to  reduce  the  manual  efforts. Multi utility/ Rail borne vehicles have been  provided for track maintenance to mobile gangs.
4.  To reinforce safety practices, regular counselling and medical examinations are carried out. Regular training sessions are conducted to raise awareness about potential hazards. The "Personal Safety  First"  programme  with  proper  safety  protocols  is  conducted through seminars and workshops, where these employees are trained on 'How to stay safe while working on or near the track'.
5.  Regular  training  programs  on  track  safety  rules,  use  of  machines/ tools,  first-aid  etc.  are  conducted  through  Zonal  Training  Centres (ZTC) with practical and visual training aids for better appreciation.
6.      As  regard  to  welfare  measures  to  employees,  they  have  been provided Gang Tools cum Rest Room, Gang Huts, Toilet's facilities at manned  level  crossing,  Water  bottle  (2  litre,  heat  insulated),  family accommodation to take care of education and health of dependents. Further, Risk and Hardship Allowances has been provided according to nature of duty of the track maintainers.
7.  Flexibility in duty roaster as per climatic conditions and requirements are permitted. Recognition and awards for exemplary performance in safety  and  maintenance  of  tracks  are  done  for  encouragement  of track maintainers.
8.  VHF  based  Approaching  Train  Warning  System  gives  an  advance warning to staff through handheld VHF Receiver device on changing Advance  Starter  Signal  to  Green  for  coming  train  in  block  section. These devices are being provided to staff working on railway track of all routes for added safety in addition to normal protection precautions.  This  system  is  being  introduced  progressively  across Indian  Railways network. About  340  block  sections  have  been covered so far with this system.

As a result of the above safety measures, there is 66% reduction in no. of deaths of railway staff during track maintenance work from 196 in 2013-14. Railways follow a compensation mechanism under which an amount of Rs. 25 lakhs (w.e.f. 01.01.2016) as Ex-gratia lumpsum compensation is paid by the Railways to the family/ dependents of an employee who loses his/ her life due to accidents in the course of performance of duty.

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