TALIT

Zero passenger fatalities due to railway accident since April 2019

Measures to enhance safety include - Highest ever elimination of level crossings (1274 nos.); Highest ever renewal of rails for 5181 track km in 2019-2020

Total 1309 nos. of ROBs/RUBs were constructed; 1367 nos. of bridges were rehabilitated during 2019-2020 to enhance safety o­n the railways network

Indian Railways registered the best ever safety record during April 2019 – March 2020. Including this year so far (from 01.04.2019 to 08.06.2020) there has been no fatality of any railway passenger in any train accident. The remarkable feat has been achieved for the first time in the year 2019-2020 since introduction of Railway System in India 166 years ago in the year 1853. The zero passenger fatalities in the last 15 months is a result of continuous efforts by Indian Railways to improve safety performance in all respects. Safety being the topmost priority always, the measuresundertaken for safety improvement include elimination of manned level crossings, construction of Road over Bridges (ROBs)/ Road under Bridges (RUBs), rehabilitation of bridges, highest ever renewal of rail tracks, highest ever supply of rails during the year from SAIL, effective track maintenance, stringent monitoring of safety aspects, improved training of railway staff, improvements in signaling system, use of modern technology for safety works, switching over to modern and safer LHB coaches in phases from the conventional ICF coaches etc.

Following are the some major measures taken by Indian Railways to enhance Safety:

•Record number of 1274 nos. of Manned Level Crossings have been eliminated in 2019-20 compared to 631 in 2018-19 (double of that done in last year). This is highest ever elimination of level crossings.

•Total 1309 nos. of ROBs/RUBs were constructed in 2019-20 to enhance safety o­n the railways network.

•1367 nos. of bridges were rehabilitated during 2019-20 compared to 1013 (+37% of last year).

•Highest ever renewal of rails for 5,181 Track km (TKM) in 2019-20 against 4,265 TKM in 2018-19 (+20% of last year).

•Highest ever supply of rails (13.8 lakh ton) during the year from SAIL. With supply of 6.4 Lakh ton long rails, scope of field welding decreased drastically leading to better reliability of asset.

•285 nos. Level Crossings (LC) have been interlocked by signals in 2019-20, cumulative interlocked LC nos. are 11,639.

•In order to improve safety 84 stations with mechanical signaling replaced with electrical/electronic signaling during 2019-20.

All the above could become possible with inputs in the system in the form of Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) introduced in the year 2017-18 with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to be spent in next five years, having annual outlay of Rs 20,000 crore. With this fund, it has been possible to undertake very critical safety works of urgent nature and results are evident.

“23”

Pib.nic.in

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

***

Railways announces slew of measures to discourage non-essential travel

Barring 23 categories of concessions to Patients, Divyangjans and Students, all withdrawn till further advisory

Launches organized information campaign to sensitize the travelers and citizens

Measures are meant to ensure their protection against COVID19 and national fight against the corona virus.

Revised List of Categories entitled for concession attached    

*****

New Delhi, 20th March, 2020

Indian Railways has taken a slew of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. The measures are being implemented across all the zones and relate to dis-incentivizing non- essential travel, a proactive outreach and communication campaign and reduction in the number of trains with low occupancies.

These measures are in accordance with repeated advisories of Government of India to minimize the unnecessary travel and social distancing. Yesterday, Prime Minister Shri Modi gave a clarion call to the nation to not to lower the guard against the virus. While advising the nation to stay patient, the Prime Minister had also implored the citizens to stay at home, observe social distancing and avoid crowding.

Indian Railways has taken steps to discourage citizens from undertaking non essential journeys by temporarily removing special incentives for many categories which had been existing for their travel. Indian Railways has done this by pruning the categories of travelers who were preciously entitled to avail concessions. Of 55 different categories which were entitled for concession,  now o­nly twenty three (23) sub categories under Patients, Students and Divyangjans will continue to avail concessions for both Unreserved & Reserved segments w e.f  from 00:00 hrs of 20th March. (list attached). As per the new provisions, passengers who had booked tickets o­n concessions are being allowed to travel o­n those tickets as per extant rule. That means that for railway tickets already purchased before 00:00 Hrs 20th March 2020, in case of travel, no difference in fare shall be collected.

Withdrawal of these concessions would especially be of benefit the senior citizens who are most vulnerable to the Corona virus . It has been seen that the risk of spread and mortality rate due to COVID-19 virus is highest among senior citizens as susceptibility increases with age. As the report of the WHO Joint Mission o­n Corona virus Disease indicates, “Individuals at highest risk for severe disease and death include people aged over 60 years. WHO, in its travel advisory issued o­n 29th Feb, 2020, has also suggested elderly travelers and people with chronic diseases or underlying health condition to delay or avoid travel to affected areas. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has already issued an advisory with several proposed measures and interventions relating to Social Distancing. o­ne of the interventions is “Non-essential  travel  should  be  avoided. Buses,  Trains  and  aeroplanes  to  maximize social distancing in public transport besides ensuring regular and proper disinfection of surfaces”.

Communication and outreach efforts are being mounted all across the country through Regular announcements  o­n PA Systems of Railway Stations & Trains to sensitize the public about various Do’s & Don’ts highlighting the need for keeping hands clean by frequent washing of hands, maintaining social distance, covering the mouth while sneezing and coughing, precautions to be taken if o­ne has running fever- (don’t travel and report immediately to the Doctor) and not spitting anywhere in the Rail premises. Advisories are being issued to passengers to avoid non-essential train journeys and to ensure that they do not have running fever while they are commencing the journey. At any point of journey if passenger feels that he is having fever, he can contact the Railway Staff for medical attention and further assistance. Social distancing and over crowding is being discouraged by  way and means of conversion of vacant sleeper class coaches are being into General Sitting Coaches, where ever needed and raising of platform tickets  at various stations across zones o­n basis of ground situation.  

Appropriate optimization is being in done in running of trains in conjunction with the  availability of alternate trains o­n these routes. The demand for travel and level of occupancy of trains are being closely monitored o­n a daily basis and modifications in the operation train services are being carried out in accordance with actual requirement. Full refund is being granted to the passengers as per rules for the train cancellations have been announced in advance. However, for the voluntary cancellations of tickets done by the passengers, the normal rule is being followed which is based o­n the system of prior notice in various time slabs.

LIST OF   DIFFERENT      CATEGORIES            OF PERSONS GRANTED CONCESSION o­n   INDIAN RAILWAYS ALONGWITH ELEMENT OFCONCESSION

(WEF 20.03.2020)

COMMENTS