Parliament Question: Security Level of Train Passengers

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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