**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of Railways to the Lok Sabha on February 4, 2026 (UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 910). The question concerned the security level of train passengers and the government's initiatives to strengthen it. The document outlines various measures being taken by the Railways in coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to enhance the safety and security of passengers, particularly women.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Security Measures:**
* State Governments are primarily responsible for law and order on Railways.
* Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/District Police.
* Vulnerable routes are escorted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police.
* Surveillance is maintained through CCTV cameras in coaches and at railway stations.
* **Passenger Assistance and Communication:**
* Passengers can complain on Rail Madad Portal or through Helpline Number 139.
* Railways use social media platforms to enhance security and address concerns.
* Frequent announcements are made to educate passengers about safety precautions.
* **Committees and Initiatives:**
* State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) monitor security arrangements.
* The 'Meri Saheli' initiative focuses on the safety of lady passengers traveling alone on long-distance trains.
* An MoU exists between the National Commission for Women (NCW) and RPF for capacity building to prevent crime against women.
* **Measures for Women's Safety:**
* Drives are conducted against male passengers entering compartments reserved for women.
* Vande Bharat trains are equipped with Emergency Talk Back Units and Passenger Emergency Alarm Buttons.
* Panic buttons in coaches are in accordance with RDSO specifications.
* Female passengers can make use of accommodations earmarked for women in unreserved coaches of Mail/Express trains
* Separate compartments are used for exclusive use of female passengers in suburban trains.
* Ladies' special services are operated in major metropolitan suburban sections.
* **Reservation Quotas (Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989):**
* A reservation quota of six berths in sleeper class and six berths in 3AC class are earmarked for female passengers.
* A combined quota of lower berths is earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers (45+ years), and pregnant women.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Train Passengers (including women, senior citizens, and pregnant women)**
**Impact:** Increased safety and security measures on trains, including escort services, CCTV surveillance, passenger assistance portals, and women-specific security initiatives.
**Action Required:** Utilize available resources (Helpline, Rail Madad Portal, social media) for immediate assistance and reporting security concerns. Be aware of reservation quotas.
* **Railway Protection Force (RPF)**
**Impact:** Supplementing state efforts and additional responsibilities for escorting trains, ensuring security in railway areas, and capacity building to prevent crime against women.
**Action Required:** Enforce existing laws and regulations to maintain order, provide security and protection to passengers. Participate in capacity-building programs.
* **Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police**
**Impact:** Maintain law and order within the railway system.
**Action Required:** Coordinate with RPF to prevent, detect, register, and investigate crime and to maintain law and order on Railways.
* **State Governments**
**Impact:** Responsible for prevention, detection, registration, and investigation of crime and maintenance of law and order on Railways.
**Action Required:** Ensure the law enforcement agencies are in place to carry out responsibilities.
Key Entities Referenced
Railways Act, 1989: A law related to railways, Section 58 providing for earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains.
Railway Protection Force (RPF): A security force that supplements the efforts of Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police to provide better protection and security to railway property and passengers.
Ministry of Railways: The primary administrative body responsible for the Indian Railways, answering questions about the security of train passengers.
‘Meri Saheli’ initiative: An initiative focused on providing safety and security for lady passengers travelling alone by long-distance trains.
State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR): Committees constituted for all States/Union Territories to monitor and review security arrangements of the Railways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 910
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
SECURITY LEVEL OF TRAIN PASSENGERS
910. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken initiatives to strengthen the security
level of train passengers;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of proposal to install Emergency SOS system in compartments
for use of passengers particularly women;
(d) whether steps have been taken by the Government to introduce exclusive
reserved compartments for women only in long distance trains; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, State Governments are
responsible for prevention, detection, registration, and investigation of crime
and maintenance of law and order on Railways through their law enforcement
agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Railway
Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/ District Police to provide
better protection and security to railway property, passenger area and
passengers and for matters connected therewith.The following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP
for safety and security of passengers including women passengers travelling in
trains:-
1. On vulnerable and identified routes/sections, trains are escorted by
Railway Protection Force in addition to trains escorted by Government
Railway Police of different States daily.
2. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in number of coaches
and at railway stations.
3. For immediate assistance passengers can make complaint on Rail Madad
Portal directly or through Helpline Number 139 [integrated with
Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) No.112].
4. Railways are in regular touch with passengers through various social
media platforms like twitter & facebook to enhance security of passengers
and to address their security concern.
5. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to
educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging
etc.
6. State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) have been
constituted for all State/Union Territories under the Chairmanship of
respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/Union
Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of
the Railways.
7. Under ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, focused attention has been provided for
safety and security of lady passengers travelling alone by long distance
trains for their entire journey i.e. from originating station to destination
station.
8. An MoU has been signed between National Commission for Women (NCW)
and RPF for capacity building of RPF personnel to prevent crime against
women.9. Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into the
compartment reserved for women and legal action is taken against the
offenders under the provisions of Railways Act, 1989.
Improvement/up-gradation of Rolling Stock to enhance safety and comfort of
passengers is a continuous and ongoing process on Indian Railways.
Accordingly, Vande Bharat trains are equipped with four Emergency Talk Back
Units in every coach, enabling passengers to communicate with the Train
Manager/Loco Pilot in case of exigencies. Passenger Emergency Alarm Buttons
have also been provided in Vande Bharat trains, with four such buttons in each
coach for emergency use.
Provisioning of Panic Button in coaches is covered in RDSO’s specification no.
RDSO/SPN/TC/106/2025 version 3.1 for Internet Protocol (IP) based Video
Surveillance System for Rolling Stock of Indian Railways.
Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989 provides for earmarking of accommodation
for female passengers in trains. Accordingly, in trains carrying passengers,
Indian Railways has earmarked following accommodation for female
passengers:
i. A reservation quota of six berths in sleeper class in long distance
Mail/Express trains and a reservation quota of six berths in 3AC class of
all Rajdhani/Duronto/fully Air Conditioned/Express trains has been
earmarked for female passengers irrespective of their age, travelling alone
or in a group of female passengers.
ii. A combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class,
four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and
three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes
(depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) has been
earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and
above and pregnant women.iii. Accommodation is also earmarked for female passengers in the
unreserved coaches of Mail/Express trains.
iv. Separate compartments/coaches have been earmarked in suburban trains
for exclusive use of female passengers.
v. Ladies special services are operated on the suburban sections of Mumbai,
Kolkata, Secunderabad and Chennai as well as on the Delhi-National
Capital Region (NCR) sections.
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