Lok Sabha Question No. 1350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Railway Safety Fund
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1350

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## RAILWAY SAFETY FUND

## 1350.SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI  VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

DR.PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has created a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore to  give  a  major  boost  to  safety-related  works  connected  with tracks, rolling stock and proliferation of other safety technologies and training  of staff and if so, the facts in this regard;
- (b) whether this corpus has started funding safety related works and if so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether all  safety  related  measures  have  been  compromised  as over one lakh posts related to the railways' safety mechanism are vacant;
- (d) if so, the response of the Union Government thereon;
- (e) the manner in which the Government will use the corpus fund in the absence of workforce; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government for proper utilization of corpus funds and to speed up safety-related works?

## 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.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1350 BY SHRI ANANDRAO  ADSUL,  SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO  RAUT,  SHRI  JITENDRA  CHAUDHURY,  DR.  PRITAM  GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO, SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL, SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV,              DR. SHRIKANT  EKNATH  SHINDE  AND  SHRI  SHRIRANG  APPA  BARNE  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 25.07.2018 REGARDING RAILWAY SAFETY FUND (a) and (b):  Yes,  Madam.  As  announced  by  Hon'ble  Minister  of  Finance  in his Budget Speech 2017-18, a Fund namely 'Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh' has been introduced in 2017-18 for works relating to renewal, replacement, upgradation of critical safety assets under Capital segment of Budget. The Fund has a corpus of ` 1  lakh  crore  over  a  period  of  five  years,  with  an annual  outlay of ` 20,000 crore.  The Fund is utilized to finance identified works  under  plan  heads  Track  Renewals,  Bridge  Works,  Signalling  and Telecommunication  Works,  Road  Safety  Works  of  Level  Crossings  and Road Over/Under Bridges, Rolling Stock, Traffic Facilities, Electrical Works, Machinery and Plant, Workshops, Passenger Amenities and Training. The Fund has been introduced in 2017-18 and in the first year of its inception, an expenditure of ` 16091 crore has been incurred. An outlay of ` 20,000 crore has been allocated in Budget Estimates 2018-19 also. (c)  and  (d):  No,  Madam.  All  safety  related  measures  are  taken  in  full earnestness and all maintenance and other activities are carried out with the  help  of  existing  manpower,  mechanized  means  and  need  based outsourcing.

(e)  and  (f):  Guidelines  for  operating  of  'Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh (RRSK) have been issued by Ministry of Finance. These guidelines include sources of financing RRSK, definition of safety works, summary of RRSK works  identified,  process  of  identifying/preparation  of  action  plan  on safety, approval framework and monitoring framework of RRSK safety plan. Planning Directorate of Railway Board has been assigned the task of regularly  monitoring  physical  and  financial  progress  of  works  funded through 'RRSK'. In addition, an independent 'RRSK Monitoring Committee' has  been  created  headed  by  CEO,  NITI  Aayog  to  regularly  examine  the RRSK performance. The RRSK progress/performance shall also be reviewed annually by the 'Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

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