Trains to have automatic doors

In order to improve the safety of travelling passengers, the railway minister proposed to bring in technology for automatic closing of doors before start of train, both on the main line and in suburban coaches.

A pilot project for limited number of trains will be taken up, he said.

Gowda has said more than Rs40,000 crore would be needed to be invested in track renewals, elimination of unmanned level crossing and construction of road-under-bridges and road-over-bridges.

Against this, the Railway Budget 2014-15 has made a provision of Rs1,785 crore for road-under-bridges and road-over-bridges and requested concerned state governments to expedite their proposals and pass on their share of the cost.

Indian Railways has 30,348 level crossings, out of which 11,563 are unmanned, he said. Each unmanned level crossing is being examined in detail and depending on the site condition, action will be taken to eliminate it by suitable modality.

The railways proposes to use modern Vehicle Borne Ultrasonic Flaw Detection System to detect rail and weld fractures. In addition, Ultrasonic Broken Rail Detection System (UBRD) will also be tried at two locations as a pilot project, he said.

To strengthen security in trains and at stations, he said, 17000 RPF constables have been recruited and shall be shortly available for deployment. He said, the Indian Railways also proposes to recruit 4,000 women RPF constables.

He said, in order to ensure security of ladies travelling alone, special instructions are being issued for their safety in each class of travel. With the induction of women RPF constables, coaches for ladies will be escorted. Additional care will be taken for ladies travelling alone in all classes.

The minister said RPF escorting teams in trains will be provided mobile phones so that passengers can contact them when in distress. Security helpline will be augmented.

He also said that the Railways will explore the possibility of building of boundary walls around stations through PPP route.