To cater to the needs of passengers and generate additional accommodation for travelling passengers, Indian Railways introduce new services, extends services, increases their frequencies, augments load, which are ongoing processes, subject to operational feasibility, resource availability, competing demands etc. The number of passengers on originating basis during financial year 2022-23 is 639 crore.

In addition, to cater to the extra rush of passengers during festive seasons, vacations etc., operation of special trains and temporary augmentation of trains are also undertaken.

The following steps are taken by the Railways to prevent stampedes and accidents caused by overcrowding at railway stations:-

1. Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff in coordination with commercial department and Government Railway Police (GRP) are deployed at stations and railway premises for crowd management.
2. All out efforts are made by RPF for orderly entry of passengers to unreserved coaches during festive season by making queue of passengers on platforms before placement of trains.
3. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address system for crowd control.
4. Foot over bridges, entry & exit points, platforms etc. are manned by RPF personnel to regulate the movements of passengers in coordination with GRP.
5. Trained RPF staff are deployed in Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance rooms to monitor the crowd areas and to anticipate probable crowd movement for further information to the staff deputed at station premises.
6. Additional manpower of security personnel is provided from Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) Battalions.
7. Monitoring and vigil on criminal activities is ensured by deploying staff in plain clothes.

As on 31.03.2023, 65301 passenger coaches are available for operation.

With a view to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Railways had discontinued the operation of all regular passenger carrying trains with effect from 23rd March, 2020 and only special train services were being operated. Meanwhile, Indian Railways have undertaken rationalization of the time table in a scientific manner with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. The exercise has been undertaken, inter-alia, to provide for better passenger safety by creating maintenance corridor blocks, minimizing conflicts in existing time table, which, inter-alia involved conversion of Passenger services into Mail/Express services. Since November-2021, Mail/express train services are being operated as per rationalized timetable and regular numbers.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

—-