Necessary safety features added to old ICF coaches: Gohain

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Keeping in mind the safety of its passengers, the Railways has designed old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches with necessary safety features, parliament was told on Friday.

"Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches plying over the Indian Railways have been designed with the necessary safety features considering the operating conditions over Indian Railways," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He also said that, however, the Ministry of Railways has decided to carry out the work of upgradation of the coach interiors and exteriors and to provide additional safety features like the "anti-climbing" feature, which reduces the chances of coaches climbing one over the other in the event of accidents, in the identified ICF type coaches, that have a certain balance residual life.

"The upgradation of coaches would result in an improvement in the overall ambience and furnishing and enhanced passenger comfort," the minister said.

Gohain said that the work includes complete stripping of the coaches to a bare shell, extensive corrosion repair of the body and underframe, replacement of headstock, if required, provision of new or overhauled draw and buffing gear, refurbishment of coach interiors, polyurethane painting of the exteriors, renewal of toilets and fittings along with plumbing, provision of new fans, lights and batteries, etc.