Indian Railways Launches Drive Against Smoking And Transportation Of Inflammable Materials Onboard Trains

A massive drive against smoking at rail premises and carrying inflammable material onboard is underway across all zones of the Indian Railways to prevent fire incidents.

There are a few cases of fire mishaps reported recently, resulting in loss of property and risk to life in various zonal railways.

A few of these incidents appear to have been caused by smoking or transportation of inflammable material onboard trains.

In order to curb such incidents, the national transporter has undertaken a series of steps.

This drive was launched on 22 March and is likely to continue till 30 April 2021. Legal action will be taken against the offenders starting from 31 March 2021.

Indian Railways has instructed all zonal railways to launch an intensive seven-day awareness campaign to educate all stakeholders including rail users and railway/non-railway employees working at stations and in trains such as parcel staff, lease holders and their staff, parcel porters, catering staff, staff engaged through outsourcing among others.

The campaign aims to generate awareness about precautions to be taken during a fire and enforcing “No Smoking” rule, preventing transportation of inflammable material onboard trains by checking parcels, by direct interaction, distribution of leaflets, pamphlets, pasting of stickers, conducting street plays, announcement through public address system at stations, advertisement in print, electronic media and social media etc.

The railways has instructed for a sustained drive against smoking in trains and on platforms and sought action against violators through legal provisions of Railways Act or Tobacco Act post the massive awareness campaign.

According to the railways, an officer not below the rank of ticket collector of the commercial department or an officer of equivalent rank of operating department or an officer not below the rank of assistant sub inspector of police in Railway Protection Force have been notified as competent to act under the provisions of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003.

Regular checks are to be carried out in trains against transportation of inflammable and explosive goods, including pantry cars (for carriage of LPG cylinders) and violators to be booked under relevant sections of the Railways Act.

Regular checks need to be undertaken in platforms, yards, washing/sick lines, stables coaches to check cases of lighting fire, using sigri for cooking food, collection of inflammable debris among others, it stated.

The fuelling points are also to be covered under these instructions that have been issued to take legal action against the culprits.

Checking of parcels booked through parcel offices/leaseholders is to be done to curb chances of transportation of inflammable and explosives material.

Action against authorised/unauthorised vendors using sigri/stoves in trains and on platforms is also to be taken.