Number of Ladies Compartments in Various Trains

(a)  Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989 provides for earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains. Accordingly, in trains carrying passengers, Indian Railways have earmarked following accommodation for female passengers:

• 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 Garib Rath/Rajdhani/Duronto/fully air-conditioned Express trains for  female passengers irrespective of their age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.

• 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.

• Second class accommodation for women in the second Class-cum-Luggage-cum Guard’s Coach (SLR) in most of the long distance trains.

• Exclusive unreserved coaches/compartments for female passengers in EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit)/DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit)/MMTS(Multi Modal Transport System) trains& local passenger trains depending upon demand pattern as well as availability of accommodation.

• Running of ladies special EMU/MEMU/MMTS services on the suburban sections of Mumbai, Kolkata, Secunderabad and Chennai as well as on the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) sections.

(b) Policing of Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP to provide better protection and security of passenger area and passengers. Cases of Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes in Railways are registered and investigated by the concerned Government Railway Police. Railways does not maintain any data on Indian Penal Code crimes. Whenever any information about status of crime on Railways is sought, State GRP is requested to provide the information. Based on the data provided by Government Railway Police Stations, the number of cases of rape, molestation and assault on women passengers in trains registered by GRP during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 over Indian Railways are appended.

(c) & (d)  Earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains, its review based on demand pattern and provision of other facilities for their safe and comfortable journey is a continuous and ongoing exercise. However, in addition to the accommodation earmarked for female passengers as mentioned in reply to part(a), following other major steps have been taken by Indian Railways (some in co-ordination with Government Railway Police) to ensure safe & comfortable journey of female passengers:-

• On vulnerable and identified routes/sections, 2500 trains (on an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily in addition to 2200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.

• Security Help Line number 182 is made operational over Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.

• Through various social media platforms viz. twitter, facebook etc., Railways are in regular touch with passengers including women to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concern.

• Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers for entering into compartments reserved for women passengers and persons apprehended are prosecuted as per law.

• Ladies Special trains running in Metropolitan cities are being escorted by lady RPF personnel. In other trains, where escorts are provided, the train escorting parties have been briefed to keep extra vigil on the lady passengers travelling alone, ladies coaches en-route and at halting stations.

• Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras, provided at about 453 stations over Indian Railways, to ensure safety and security of passengers.

• An Integrated Security System (ISS) consisting of surveillance of vulnerable stations through Close Circuit Television Camera Network, Access Control etc. has been sanctioned to improve surveillance mechanism over 202 railway stations.

• All Railway Stations and passenger carrying trains are planned to be progressively provided with CCTV based surveillance system.

• Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.

• Regular coordination is made with the State Police/GRP authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in Railway premises as well as on running trains.

• Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been provided in Humsafar and Tejas train services. These are being proliferated further in other coaches in a phased manner on Indian Railways (IR) to improve security of passengers, including women passengers.

(b)  The number of cases of rape, molestation and assault on women passengers in trains registered by GRP during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 over Indian Railways are as under:-