Lok Sabha Question No. 1001 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-27
Subject: Passenger Safety and Amenities in Suburban Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1001 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2015

## PASSENGER SAFETY AND AMENITIES IN SUBURBAN TRAINS

1001.  SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  details  of  action  taken  by  the  Railways  on  improving  passenger safety and passenger amenities in suburban train services across the country; and
- (b) the steps taken  to  improve  the  safety  and  security  of  women passengers in suburban trains?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1001  BY  SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  27.07.2015  REGARDING  PASSENGER  SAFETY  AND AMENITIES IN SUBURBAN TRAINS.

(a):  Measures taken by Indian Railways for improving passenger safety and passenger amenities in suburban trains are as follows:

-  The suburban train coaches made in Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, have  features  of  cushioned  seats  in  First  Class  and  Polycarbonate seats in Second Class for better aesthetics and passenger comfort. These coaches also have provision of forced air ventilation, passenger  information  and  announcement  system,  stainless  steel fixtures, Light Emitting Diode (LED) tube lights, etc. Other features for passenger  safety  include,  stainless  steel  coach  body,  improved design rigid hand holds, slip free grab pole, etc. in the coaches.
-  Facilitating passengers and reducing trespassing by building of more Foot Over Bridges, provision of escalators and lifts, blocking gaps in the boundary walls on either side, fencing of the area between two platforms  so  that  the  people  are  not  tempted  to  jump  from  one platform  to  another  by  crossing  tracks,  Reducing  gap  between coaches and platforms.
-  Stringent  and  regular  inspection  of  all  safety  items  are  carried  out during  scheduled  inspections  as  specified  by  Research  Design  and Standards Organization (RDSO).
-  In  Western Railway suburban system Auxiliary Warning System is in place to prevent collision in case of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD).
-  Public  awareness  campaigns  are  organized  by  Railway  Protection Force (RPF) to brief the public about the hazards of crossing tracks, roof top traveling and stunts.

(b):    Policing  on  Railways  is  a  State  subject  and  prevention  of  crime, registration of cases and their investigation in railway premises as well as on running trains including in suburban train service across the country are the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP) of the States concerned.  However,  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the efforts of Government Railway Police by deploying its staff for escorting of important trains in affected areas and access control duties at important and sensitive stations.

The following  measures are being taken by the Railways to ensure safe and secure journey to the passengers including women passengers:

-  Ladies special trains are being escorted by lady RPF staff, wherever available, in sub-urban sections.
-  The ladies compartments in local trains are being escorted by RPF and  GRP  during  peak  /non-peak  hours.  Staff  deployment  is  made during  late  night  and  early  morning  local  trains  to  ensure  proper security to the lady passengers.
-  Shakti Mahila teams headed by Lady RPF officers and Nirbhaya Squad headed by GRP official have been formed over Central Railway to act against the offenders harassing women passengers.
-  12 Mahila Vahinis (women RPF companies) have been sanctioned to strengthen  security  of  women  passengers  in  suburban  section  of metropolitan cities.
-  Security  Help-Line  number  182  has  become  operational  in  Zonal Railways'  Control  Rooms  to  enable  passengers  to  seek  security related assistance on real time basis.
-  A  daily  average  of  1300  trains  are  escorted  by  Railway  Protection Force.  In  addition  2200  trains  are  escorted  by  Government  Railway Police of different States.
-  To empower the RPF to create a more effective security mechanism over Indian Railways, a proposal for amendment in the RPF Act has been  moved  by  the  Ministry  of  Railways  with  the  approval  of  the Ministries of Law and Justice and Home Affairs.
-  An Integrated Security System (ISS) including electronic surveillance through Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to enhance security over 202 sensitive and vulnerable railway stations is under implementation.
-  RPF  holds  regular  coordination  meetings  with  State  Police  at  all levels  to  ensure  proper  registration  and  investigation  of  crime  by GRP.
-  A Mobile App named 'M-Indicator' has been launched by Railways in Mumbai Sub-urban section in the Month of January, 2015.
-  Regular Drives against man entering coaches reserved for ladies by RPF under section 162 of the Railways Act.

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