Question : Lack of Proper Lighting

(a) whether the Railways has recently announced many passenger amenities and facilities in railways and railway stations in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware that passengers face difficulties in identifying the station in darkness due to lack of proper lighting at railway stations located in rural areas;

(d) if so, whether passengers also face difficulties due to the absence of an announcement system in the trains about the next station;

(e) whether the Government proposes to make arrangements for the advance announcement of name of the next station as well as written information in each coach through screening board on the lines of metro trains to address the said problem;

(f) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done; and

(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to convert railway stations in the country to the standards of airport?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1635 BY SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK, SHRI RAVI KISHAN, SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA, SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV, SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK, SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA, SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE AND SHRI HIBI EDEN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021 REGARDING LACK OF PROPER LIGHTING

(a) & (b): Augmentation/Improvement of passenger amenities on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process. At the time of construction of station, Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) is provided as per norms based on the category of station. Recommended and Desirable Amenities are further escalated from time to time with growth in passenger traffic at stations, based on needs and expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds. However, with a view to meet the expectations of the rail users, Indian Railways is making all out efforts to provide improved amenties/facilities at all railway stations and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon volume of the passenger traffic and inter-se priority subject to availability of funds.
(c): Based on suggestion received from Consultative Committee of MPs for the Ministry of Railways for need of proper illumination of station name boards displayed at the two ends of the platforms, it was reiterated to Zonal Railways that electric poles provided at the platforms of all electrified stations should be adjusted in such a manner that station name boards provided at the two ends of the platforms are properly illuminated so as to be read easily during night. It was also emphasized that lights specifically provided for illumination of the station name board are kept glowing during the night.
(d) to (f): Installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) based Passenger Announcement cum Passenger Information System (PAPIS) in Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) & Kolkata Metro has already been installed. This Passenger Information System informs the passengers regarding the next approaching station through audio announcement on speakers as well as through video display on LED screens simultaneously. Further, newly manufactured EMU/MEMU rakes are already equipped with such technology/system. Passenger announcement/ information system are also available in premium trains like Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Tejas and UDAY Express.
(g): At present, modernisation/upgradation of Railway stations is undertaken under Adarsh Station scheme, based on identified need of providing better enhanced passenger amenities at stations. 1253 stations have been identified for development under this scheme. Based on the respective category of the station, passenger amenities such as improvement to façade of the station building, retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities), separate waiting room for ladies, computer based public address system, landscaping of circulating area, signages, Pay & Use toilets, water coolers, ramps at entry to station for Divyangjan and Senior Citizens etc. are provided at Railway stations identified and developed under this scheme. Modern facilities like lifts, escalators, travalators etc. are also set up depending upon the priority of the station concerned.

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