Lok Sabha Question No. 211 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Overhauling of Railway Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## OVERHAULING OF RAILWAY TRACKS

*211. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of initiatives to upgrade the infrastructure of railways, specifically the railway tracks that are found to be damaged and unfit for regular use along with the progress made therein;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  put  in  place  a  structured  plan  to identify the railway zones that need urgent overhauling;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Eastern Railways has been identified to be in urgent requirement of overhauling of railway tracks; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action being taken thereon?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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 STARRED QUESTION NO. 211 BY SHRI SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING OVERHAULING OF RAILWAY TRACKS

(a) to (e) Upgradation/strengthening/rehabilitation/rebuilding of railway infrastructure  is  a  continuous  process  on  Indian  Railways  and  is undertaken  whenever  so  warranted  by  their  physical  condition  as ascertained during regular inspection by the designated officials.

Railway tracks are replaced through Track Renewal Works, which is an  ongoing  process.  Track  Renewal  Works  are  undertaken  as  and when  a  stretch  of  track  becomes  due  for  renewal  on  the  basis  of criteria  laid  down  in  Indian  Railway  Permanent  Way  Manual  on age/condition basis viz. traffic carried in terms of gross million tonnes, incidence  of  rail  fracture/failure,  wear  of  rails,  corrosion  of  rails, maintainability of  track as per standards, etc. On Meter Gauge (MG) and  Narrow  Gauge  (NG)  tracks  which  are  sanctioned  for  Gauge conversion, the track renewal works, if required, are undertaken after due consideration of progress of execution of gauge conversion. Track Renewal Works are planned in advance every year and their execution is  prioritized  according  to  the  condition  of  track  and  various  other factors ensuring all the time that track is in a sound condition for safe running of trains. In case any stretch of track is not renewed in time due  to  various  reasons,  suitable  speed  restrictions,  if  required  are imposed to ensure safe running of trains.

As on 01.04.2018, 8265 km of track (in Complete Track Renewal Units, i.e  CTR  units)  is  sanctioned  on  Indian  Railways  for  renewal  out  of which a target of 4400 km in CTR units for track renewal has been kept for year 2018-19. This includes Through Rail Renewal (Primary) or TRR(P) of 5000 km.  Budget outlay of Rs. 11450 Cr. has been provided under Track Renewal for year 2018-19.

As on 01.04.2018 on Eastern Railway, approx. 583 km. in CTR Units of Track  Renewal  is  sanctioned.  This  includes  Through  Rail  Renewal (Primary) of 669 km. A target of 289 km in CTR Units of track renewal (including TRR(P) of 318 km) has been kept for 2018-19. The details of track  renewal  for  the  year  2017-18  and  current  year  for  Eastern Railway are as under:

| Railway   | Year                               | Track Renewal                           |
|-----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Eastern   | 2017-18 (Progress)                 | 268 CTR units (Including TRR(P) 277 km) |
|           | 2018-19 (Target)                   | 289 CTR Units (Including TRR(P) 318 km) |
|           | 2018-19 (Progress upto June, 2018) | 63 CTR units (Including TRR(P) 64 km)   |

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