Lok Sabha Question No. 2164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Development of Udhna and Surat Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2164 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF UDHNA AND SURAT RAILWAY STATIONS

2164.  SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  updated  status  of  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  for  overall development,  modernisation  and  beautification  of  Surat  and  Udhna Railway Stations;

(b)  the  amount  spent  for  the  aforesaid  purpose  during  the  last  three years, year-wise;

(c) the updated status of setting up of Divisional Railway Manager office at Surat;

- (d) the steps taken to increase security of Surat Railway Station in view of increasing threat perception;

(e)  whether  to  decongest  Surat  Railway  station,  Railways  contemplate diverting some passenger traffic to Udhna station and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f)  the  steps  taken  to  increase  passenger  traffic  capacity  of  Surat Station?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2164  BY  SHRIMATI  DARSHANA  VIKRAM JARDOSH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.03.2017 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF UDHNA AND SURAT RAILWAY STATIONS.

(a)  &  (b):  Modernisation  &  beautification  of  stations  is  a  continuous  and ongoing  process.  Surat  station  has  been  developed  under  'Model'  and 'Modern'  station  schemes  and  Udhna  station  has  been  developed  under 'Model'  and  'Adarsh'  station  schemes  in  the  past.  Further,  Surat  station has  been  identified  for  development  of  a  Multi-Modal  Transport  Hub integrating the redevelopment of railway station and bus terminus. For this purpose, a Request  for Qualification has  been  recently opened  for shortlisting of bidders.

Station-wise  details  of  expenditure  incurred  are  not  maintained. Development of stations under various modernization schemes is generally funded  under  Plan  Head  'Passenger  Amenities'.  Expenditure  under  Plan Head 'Passenger Amenities' on Western Railway, which covers Surat and Udhna railway stations, during last three years is as under:

| Year               |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|--------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Expenditure ( ` in |     49.36 |     42.65 |     49.61 |

(c):  At  present, there is no proposal for setting up of Divisional Railway Manager's office at Surat.

(d):  The  following  steps  are  being  taken  to  increase  security  of  Surat railway station in view of increasing threat perception:

1.  Quick  Response Team (QRT) consisting of one officer and four other staff  with  arms  and  ammunition  is  deployed  strategically  to  combat terrorist activities and avoid any untoward incidents. 2.  32  CCTV  cameras  have  been  installed  at  Surat  Railway  station  for monitoring  suspicious  movement  of  persons  over  the  passenger  area. 3. There is strict surveillance on criminals involved in crimes in trains and Railway premises. 4.  Intelligence  inputs  are  being  collected  from  City  Police  and  other Intelligence units. 5. Close coordination is maintained with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and City Police. 6.  Regular  mock  drills  have  been  organized  in  co-ordination  with  GRP, City  Police,  Fire  Brigade,  Railway  departments  etc.  to  evaluate  the security preparedness of the division towards terror attacks. 7. RPF personnel on access control/platform duty are being briefed/debriefed  regularly  by  supervisors  and  Gazetted  Officers  for keeping effective vigil on suspected persons/object and on the suspects entraining and detraining en-route stations. (e):  Infrastructure and passenger amenities at Udhana station has been strengthened to cater as a suburb of Surat station for the convenience of passengers. (f): Increase/improvement of passenger capacity of Railway Stations is a continuous process as per volume of passenger traffic and availability of funds. For further development and improving passenger traffic capacity, Surat  station  has  been  identified  for  development  of  a  Multi-Modal Transport Hub integrating the redevelopment of railway station and bus terminus.

******