Question : INTEGRATED CONTRACT SYSTEM IN RAILWAYS

(a) whether the Railways have identified some stations to facilitate more safety and cleanliness from outsourcing agencies under Integrated Security System and Integrated Contract System including State of Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the time by which it is likely to be implemented;

(c) the time by which other stations are likely to be covered under Integrated Security System and Integrated Contract System; and

(d) the steps taken by the Railways to provide clean bed rolls to upper class train passengers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (c): Integrated Security System (ISS) has been envisaged to strengthen security surveillance mechanism over 202 sensitive stations which includes Dhanbad, Ranchi, Tatanagar, Chakradharpur and Bokaro stations of Jharkhand State. ISS is in various stages of implementation at 101 stations over 14 zonal railways. CCTV surveillance system has already been provided over 80 stations under ISS.

Instructions have been issued to the Zonal Railways for monitoring the cleaning activities at stations by utilizing the CCTVs. Recently, instructions have also been issued for outsourcing of cleanliness at 50 major stations over Indian Railways. Over Jharkhand State, two stations i.e. Tatanagar and Ranchi have been selected on a provisional basis for outsourcing of cleanliness. However, in case integrated cleanliness contracts are not awarded due to non-expiry of the existing contracts, other alternative stations will be selected for this purpose by the Zonal Railway concerned.

(d): Indian Railways always endeavor to provide good quality washed bedrolls to the passengers in trains. Bedrolls are washed /treated as per prescribed method and frequency. All the items of bedroll are condemned and replaced with new ones on attaining their prescribed life or on condition basis.

Regular inspections/checks are carried out at various levels to monitor the quality of linen provided to the passengers. Railways have also set up 32 mechanized laundries at important locations to further improve upon the quality of washing of linen.