Lok Sabha Question No. 5330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Maintenance of Old Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, NEELAM SONKER, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5330 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## MAINTENANCE OF OLD TRACKS

## 5330. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Railways is facing major problem due to old and outdated tracks;

- (b)  if so, whether  most of the tracks were laid before independence and if so, the details of the length added after independence;
- (c)    whether  the  Railways  has  made  any  study  of  finding  out  the  main deterrent factor in developing new railway lines and modernising very old railway lines, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d)    whether  these  old  tracks  caused  many  serious  railway  accidents  and also has resulted in speed restrictions and if so, the facts in this regard;
- (e)    whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Railways  continues  to  use  same  old  railway lines,  though  they  were  reported  unsafe  for  travel  and  regular  accidents occurred on these old rail lines and if so, the reasons behind it; and

(f)  the plan prepared by the Railways to resolve this problem and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) No, Madam. 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 tones, incidence of rail fracture/failure, wear of rails, corrosion of rails, maintainability of track as per standards, etc.

(b) No, Madam. At the time of independence, 60,116 track km were available in the country. After independence of the country, 61,291 track km has been further added making it cumulative 1, 21,407 track km.

(c)  Although  no  specific  study  has  been  done  by  Railway  to  find  out  main deterrent  factors  in  developing  new  railway  lines,  but  there  are  many important factors such as various clearances related to acquisition of land, forestry and wildlife, cutting trees, shifting utilities and construction of road over  bridges  and  road  under  bridges    which  affects  the  progress  of developing new lines.

(d) and (e) There is no track in unsafe condition in the country. Renewal of track is an ongoing process. If 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.  Temporary  speed  restrictions  (TSRs)  are imposed  for  short  duration  to  carry  out  planned  track  renewals  works, emergent works etc. These TSRs are removed once work is completed.

In the current year, 2017-18 (upto 15.03.2018) out of 71 consequential train accidents, 14 accidents are on account of track def ects.

(f)  For the year 2017-18, a target of 3600 km of Track Renewal in CTR units has been kept against which progress of 3493 km of track renewal has been achieved upto February, 2018. Track renewal target for 2018-19 has been kept as 3900 km in Complete Track Renewal (CTR) units (One km of Through Rail Renewal is counted as 0.5 km CTR units and one km of Through Sleeper Renewal is counted as 0.5 km CTR units).

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