Lok Sabha Question No. 2965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Accidents at Unmanned Level Crossings
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2965 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## ACCIDENTS AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS

2965.   SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the maximum  number of accidents involving Indian Railways occur at unmanned level crossings and if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether the Indian Railways has sought the help of State Governments  and  the  National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  for removing the said unmanned railway crossings and constructing bridges and low height sub-ways at such points;
- (c) if so, the extent to which the railways has been successful in this regard;
- (d) whether the railways has started any intensive publicity drive and social awareness programme for educating road users; and
- (e) if  so,  the  extent  to  which  it  has  helped  in  lowering  the  number  of accidents at unmanned railway crossings?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (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.  2965  BY  SHRI  SHRIRANG  APPA  BARNE, SHRI  VINAYAK  BHAURAO  RAUT,  SHRI  ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO, SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL,  SHRI  DHARMENDRA  YADAV  AND  SHRI  B. SRIRAMULU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2016 REGARDING ACCIDENTS AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS.

(a):    No,  Madam.  Year-wise number of consequential train accidents at unmanned level crossings caused due to negligence of road vehicle users during the last three years from 2013-14 to 2015-16 and the current year (up to 15 th  July, 2016) is as under:

| Year                           |   Number of Accidents at unmanned level crossings | As percentage of total number of consequential train accidents   |
|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                        |                                                47 | 39.83%                                                           |
| 2014-15                        |                                                50 | 37.04%                                                           |
| 2015-16                        |                                                29 | 27.10%                                                           |
| 2016-17 up to 15 th July, 2016 |                                                09 | 26.47%                                                           |

(b) & (c): It is the endeavor of Railways to eliminate all unmanned level crossings, in a phased manner, by either of the following:-

-  Closure - Closing unmanned level crossings having NIL/negligible Train Vehicle Unit (TVU).
-  Merger  -  Merger  of  unmanned  level  crossing  gate  to  nearby manned/unmanned level crossing  or  subway/Road  Under  Bridge (RUB)/Road Over Bridge (ROB) by construction of diversion road.
-  Provision of Subways
-  Manning - Phased manning of unmanned level crossings which cannot be eliminated by above means.

Generally,  consent  for  elimination  of  unmanned  level  crossings  by Closure/Merger/Provision  of  Subways  is  being  taken  from  the  State Government.

- (d)  &  (e):  To  educate  road  users  various  measures  taken  by  Indian Railways to prevent accidents at unmanned level crossings are as under:- Social awareness campaigns to educate road users with the use of  various  print  and  electronic  media  for  observance  of  safe practices prescribed in Motor Vehicle Act and Indian Railways Act and  joint  ambush  checks  along  with  civil  police  to  counter misadventure in front of approaching trains.  SMS Campaigns to create awareness amongst road users.  Zonal Railways have also been advised to deploy Gate Mitra/Gate Counselors  to  counsel  the  road  vehicle  users  for  observance  of safe practice while negotiating UMLCs. Due to these measures, accidents at unmanned level crossings have

decreased from 50 in 2014-15 to 29 in 2015-16 i.e. decrease of 42%.

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