Activities

Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan

People’s Participation for Safer Railway Communities

Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan is a comprehensive public-awareness and community-participation initiative proposed by the All India Rail Safety Council (AIRSC) to strengthen railway safety through informed citizenship, responsible conduct and collective preventive action. The Abhiyan is founded on the principle that safe railway systems require not only dependable infrastructure, modern technology and disciplined operations, but also the active cooperation of passengers, families, educational institutions and communities.

India’s railways connect cities, towns and villages while supporting mobility, livelihoods, education, tourism and economic development. Millions of people interact daily with trains, stations, platforms, level crossings and railway corridors. Their conduct can directly influence safety. Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan therefore seeks to bring essential safety knowledge closer to the public and transform awareness into responsible action at stations, during journeys and within railway-side communities.

The Abhiyan will promote clear and practical messages concerning railway-track trespassing, closed level-crossing gates, unauthorised shortcuts, mobile-phone distraction, dangerous photography and careless movement near trains. Citizens will be encouraged to use authorised foot overbridges, subways and designated crossings; obey warning lights, bells, barriers and safety signs; and maintain a safe distance from tracks, moving trains and overhead electrical equipment.

Passenger education will form an important component of the initiative. Travellers will be encouraged to arrive early, follow official announcements, stand behind platform safety lines and maintain orderly queues. They should allow passengers to exit before boarding, avoid pushing and never board or alight from a moving train. Footboard and rooftop travel, obstruction of doors, leaning outside coaches and entering restricted areas must be firmly discouraged as serious threats to life.

Special attention will be given to crowd safety at major stations and during festivals, holidays, special events and periods of heavy passenger movement. Public-awareness activities will explain the importance of following designated entry and exit routes, keeping stairways and emergency passages clear, avoiding sudden crowd movement and cooperating with authorised personnel. Passengers will also be encouraged to protect children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others who may require additional assistance.

Railway-side communities will be central partners in Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan. Targeted outreach may be conducted in neighbourhoods, villages, schools and marketplaces located near railway lines and level crossings. Community members will be encouraged to identify local hazards, discourage unsafe shortcuts, supervise children near railway corridors and report damaged fencing, unsafe access points or other risks through appropriate official channels.

Level-crossing safety will receive particular emphasis. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians must stop when gates are closed, remain behind the designated line and wait until the crossing is officially opened. Nobody should pass under or around a closed barrier, ignore warning signals or enter a crossing without sufficient space to clear the tracks completely. The fundamental message—Stop, Look, Listen and Cross Only When Permitted—will be promoted across communities.

Children and students will be engaged through RailVidya—National Children’s Integrated Safety Education Programme. School visits, safety clubs, posters, competitions, digital learning materials and Young Rail Safety Ambassador activities will teach children how to recognise railway and metro hazards, follow safe routes and seek help from trusted adults or authorised personnel. Educating one child can carry a vital safety message into an entire family.

Parents and teachers will be encouraged to serve as responsible safety role models. Children often imitate adult behaviour; therefore, adults must never cross closed gates, walk along railway tracks or take shortcuts through restricted areas. By demonstrating patience, discipline and respect for safety rules, adults can help children develop habits that remain with them throughout life.

The Abhiyan will also promote awareness of railway fire safety, electrical hazards, emergency communication and basic first-response principles. Passengers will be advised not to carry prohibited or hazardous materials, tamper with electrical equipment or misuse emergency devices. During an emergency, they should remain calm, alert authorised personnel, follow official instructions and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.

Public communication under the initiative may include community meetings, seminars, safety walks, exhibitions, workshops, short films, posters, multilingual publications, social-media campaigns and passenger guidance programmes. Messages will be designed in clear, accessible language so that they can reach people across different age groups, educational backgrounds and regions.

Youth groups, educational institutions, resident associations, professional bodies, civil-society organisations, volunteers and safety specialists may be invited to participate in suitable outreach activities. Their participation can help adapt safety messages to local conditions, expand public reach and create trusted networks of community safety advocates. All activities should be conducted responsibly and, wherever required, in coordination with the appropriate authorities.

Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan will encourage a constructive reporting culture. Citizens who observe damaged safety barriers, unauthorised track access, unattended objects, smoke, fire or dangerous public behaviour should inform the appropriate railway or emergency authority without placing themselves at risk. Responsible reporting can support early intervention and prevent a minor hazard from developing into a serious incident.

The initiative also recognises that cleanliness and protection of public property are essential elements of railway safety. Waste on platforms and stairways can cause slips, obstruct movement and increase fire risk. Passengers will therefore be encouraged to use designated waste facilities, keep emergency routes clear and protect railway equipment, signage and public amenities from damage or misuse.

Inclusiveness will remain a guiding value of the Abhiyan. Safety messages and activities will promote considerate behaviour toward women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Passengers should respect reserved facilities, avoid blocking accessible routes and provide appropriate assistance when required. Safe railway communities are created when dignity, courtesy and protection are extended to every traveller.

The progress of Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan may be assessed through the number of communities and educational institutions reached, participant engagement, training outcomes, safety-awareness surveys, stakeholder feedback and observable improvements in public behaviour. Community leaders, schools, volunteers and institutions demonstrating meaningful contributions may be recognised through suitable AIRSC safety-excellence initiatives.

Through Jan Rail Suraksha Abhiyan, the All India Rail Safety Council seeks to create a nationwide people’s movement in which every citizen becomes an active partner in accident prevention. The Abhiyan carries a simple but powerful message: railway safety does not begin only inside a train or station—it begins with the choices made by individuals, families and communities every day.

The All India Rail Safety Council, as an independent non-profit platform for rail-safety education, awareness, training and research, welcomes constructive participation from educational institutions, technical and safety professionals, community organisations, volunteers and responsible citizens. By uniting public awareness with disciplined action, India can build safer railway communities and protect lives across generations.

“People’s awareness is the first line of prevention, and people’s participation is the foundation of a lasting railway safety culture.”

Learn Safety • Practise Safety • Share Safety • Protect Lives