Lok Sabha Question No. 469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Safety of Passengers in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 469 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IN RAILWAY

## 469. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken measures to enhance the safety  of  passengers  in  the  Railways  and  if  so,  the  details  of  such measures implemented during the last five years and those proposed to be undertaken in the near future;
- (b) the  details  of  railway  accidents  that  have  occurred  during  the  last ten years, along with the number of lives lost and persons injured therein, year-wise; and
- (c) the key findings of the post-accident investigation reports during this period and the corrective steps taken by the Government to address the issues identified?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c): 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.  Consequential  Train

Accidents have reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25 as shown in the graph below.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  Consequential  Train  Accidents  during  the period 2004-14 was 1711 (average 171 per annum), which has declined to 31 in 2024-25 and further to 11 in 2025-26 (upto November, 2025).

Another important index showing improved safety in train operations is Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) which has reduced from 0.11 in 2014-15 to 0.03 in 2024-25, indicating an improvement of approx. 73% during the said period.

The number of consequential train accidents during the last ten years is depicted in the graph below:-

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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                |

As per the inquiry reports, the causes of the accidents that occurred during  the  last  five  years  broadly  include  track  defects,  loco/coach defects, equipment failures, human errors etc.

The  various  safety  measures  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 6,656 stations up to 31.10.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 10,098 Level Crossing Gates up to 31.10.2025 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  6,661 stations up to 31.10.2025.
5. 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.  Initially,  Kavach  Version  3.2  was  deployed  on  1465  RKm  of South  Central  Railway  and  80  RKm  of  North  Central  Railway.  Kavach specification  Version  4.0  was  approved  by  RDSO  on  16.07.2024.  After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach Version 4.0has been successfully commissioned on Palwal-Mathura-Kota-Nagda section (633Rkm)  on  Delhi-Mumbai  route  and    on  Howrah-Bardhaman  section (105RKm)  on  Delhi-Howrah  route.  Kavach  implementation  has  been taken up in balance sections of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah route. Further,  Kavach  implementation  has  been  taken  up  on  15,512  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,

| 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                                                        |
| (Act.)                                                         | (Act.)                                                         | (Act.)                                                         |                                                                |                                                                |
| 39,463                                                         | 87,327                                                         | 1,01,651                                                       | 1,14,022                                                       | 1,16,470                                                       |

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,
11. 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.
16. 26.
17. 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 Infrastructure and Rolling Stock    | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock   | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock          | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock   |
|----|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|  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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