Lok Sabha Question No. 1905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Passenger Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1905 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## PASSENGER SERVICES

1905.  SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  announced  several  measures for passenger services in the Budget like redevelopment of 600 railway  stations,  escalators,  public  Wi-Fi,  CCTV  cameras  etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government  has also decided to set up a Railway University at Vadodara and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  planned  to  strengthen  Mumbai and  Bengaluru  sub-urban  railways  services,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether several announcements of previous budgets are still pending for implementation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to improve the passenger service in the railways?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1905  BY  SHRI  TEJ  PRATAP  SINGH YADAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.03.2018 REGARDING PASSENGER SERVICES

( a): Yes,  Madam.    In  the  Union  Budget  2018-19  it  has  been announced  that  redevelopment  of  600  major  railway  stations  is being taken up by Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited.    All  stations  with  more  than  25000  footfalls  will  have escalators.    All  railway  stations  and  trains  will  be  progressively provided with wi-fi.  CCTVs will be provided at all stations and on trains to enhance security of passengers. (b): Yes, Madam.  It has been decided to open the first ever National Rail and Transport Institute at Vadodara. The University will be set up  in  the  campus  of  Ministry  of  Railways'  National  Academy  of Indian Railways (NAIR) in Vadodara, Gujarat. The campus infrastructure  will  be  built  in  phases  to  cater  to  approximately 3,000  students  over  10  years.    Detailed  Project  Report  has  been submitted to the Ministry of  Human Resource Development which has forwarded it to UGC for examination and advice on conferment of  Deemed  to  be  University  status  under  the  denovo  category. Renovation  and  upgradation  work  at  National  Academy  of  Indian Railways shall start shortly. (c): With a view to provide additional services in Mumbai Suburban sector, Indian Railways have introduced 104 new services. Besides, 12 number of 12-car services have been augmented to 15car  services.  150  kilometers  of  additional  suburban  network  is being planned at a cost of over 40000 crores. A suburban network

₹

of  approximately  160  kilometers  at  an  estimated  cost  of ₹ 17,000 crore is being planned to cater to the growth of Bengaluru.

- (d):  Budget announcements including those pertaining to previous budgets include various types of activities planned for implementation,  which  is  a  continuous  process.    While  some announcements get implemented soon as no lengthy execution plan and  time  is required, some  others  requiring detailed studies, planning,  approvals  and  clearances  etc.  take  time  before  actually put to implementation.  Status of implementation of previous year's budget announcements is incorporated in budget documents also.
- (e) Details of major initiatives taken by Government to improve the facilities for Rail Passengers are as under:-
- (i) Online ticket booking facility through Indian  Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website thereby obviating  the  need  to  stand  in  queues  at  reservation counters.
- (ii) Reserved  and  unreserved  ticket  booking  facility  through mobile phones.
- (iii) Provision of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) at railway stations for dispensation of tickets.
- (iv) Provision  of  various  cashless  modes  of  payment  like  net banking, e-wallets, credit/debit cards through Point of Sale (POS)s machines, through Unified Payment Interface (UPI), etc.
- (v) Earmarking of separate counters at various Computerised Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)  centres  for  dealing with  the  reservation  requisitions  received  from  persons
- with disability, senior citizens, ladies, former Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, accredited press correspondents and freedom fighters.
- (vi) Automatic preparation of first reservation charts at least 4 hours before scheduled departure of train and thereafter booking  of  available  accommodation  through  internet  as well  as  through  PRS  counters  till  preparation  of  second reservation charts.
- (vii) Intimation to passengers through SMS in case of change in passengers' reservation status from waiting list/RAC to confirmed,  cancellation  of  trains,  late  running  of  train  in identified trains, etc.
- (viii) Cancellation of computerised Passenger Reservation System  (PRS)  counter  tickets  through  IRCTC  website  or through 139.
- (ix) Automatic refund to e-ticket holders in case of cancellation of trains.
- (x) Introduction  of  Alternate  Train  Accommodation  Scheme 'VIKALP' to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers in alternate train to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation.
- (xi) Increase  in  number  of  berths  earmarked  as  RAC  to accommodate more passengers.
- (xii) Earmarking of combined quota of 6 lower berths per coach in  Sleeper,  3  lower  berths  per  coach  in  3AC  and  3  lower berths per coach in 2AC class for Senior Citizens, pregnant women and female passengers 45 years of age and  above.  Further,  in  Rajdhani,  Duronto  and  fully  Air

Conditioned/ Express trains, 4 lower berths per coach are earmarked under this quota.

- (xiii) Earmarking of a reservation Quota of 6 berths in 3AC class by Garib Rath Express trains for exclusive use of female passengers irrespective of their age while travelling alone or in group of female passengers.
- (xiv) Earmarking  of  reservation  quota  of  two  berths  in  3AC class  and  four  berths  in  Sleeper  class  for  persons  with disability.
- (xv) Introduction  of  Sarathi  Seva  to  help  old  and  disabled passengers requiring assistance at the station and strengthen the existing  services  for  enabling  passengers to  book Battery Operated Car (BOC), porter services etc. on a paid basis in addition to the existing pick up and drop and wheelchair services.
- (xvi) Provision of Yatri Mitra Sewa  at major stations for enabling  passengers  to  book  wheelchair  services  cum porter services.
- (xvii) Electronic  display  boards  are  provided  at  'A-1'  and  'A' category stations and public address systems are provided at 'A-1', 'A' and 'B' category of stations and can be provided upto 'D' category of stations.
- (xviii) Taking various steps with a view to encouraging booking of rail ticket through internet e.g. withdrawing of service charge imposed by IRCTC, enhancing the capacity of the server, increasing the options available for making payment while booking ticket through internet etc.  Due to these efforts, internet ticketing now constitute

approximately  65%  of  total  reserved  tickets  issued  on Indian Railways.

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