opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Employment in IT Sector
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1317

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2018

## EMPLOYMENT IN IT SECTOR

## 1317.   SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether new avenues of employment have been explored in the country under the Information Technology industry during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details in this regard; and
- (c) the details of the growth in quantum of revenue due to increase in employment in IT sector in the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) and (b): Yes, Sir.  The new and emerging technologies such as Data Science, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Robotic Process Automation and Machine Learning have opened new avenues of employment for the past few years.  These are also leading to major re-skilling/ up-skilling of IT professionals by the industry.

The Indian IT-ITeS industry remains net hirer. According to  Industry body NASSCOM, the number of total employees in FY2015-16 were nearly 36,90,000. The number of employees have nearly become 39,68,000 in FY 2017-18, an addition of 1,05,000, from 38,63,000 in FY 2016-17.    Besides,  the  Government  initiatives  such  as  Common  Service  Centres  (CSCs), BPO Promotion schemes, Electronic Manufacturing, Digital Payments, and Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan have generated over 15 lakh additional jobs over the last two years.

(c):   The corresponding  growth in quantum of revenue in IT sector in the last three years is as under:

| Year     |   USD in Billion | Growth rate   |
|----------|------------------|---------------|
| 2017-18E |              167 | ~ 8%          |
| 2016-17  |              154 | 7.8%          |
| 2015-16  |              143 | 8.5%          |
| 2014-15  |              132 | 8.3%          |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Transfer Policy
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1315

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018)

## TRANSFER POLICY

## †1315. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any policy for the transfer of employees of Central Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate single transfer policy for the Government employees in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to constitute any commission for single transfer policy for both Central and State employees; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)  &  (b)  :  In  terms  of  instructions  issued  by  Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  (DoPT) on transfer/posting of Government employees, all Ministries/Departments of Government of India are required to have their own guidelines for transfer/posting of their employees providing for the following -
- i. minimum tenure;
- ii. have a mechanism akin to Civil Services Board for recommending transfer; and

Respective  Ministries/Departments  are  also  required  to  place  the  transfer  policy  in  public domain.

- (c)  to  (f)  :    There  is  no  proposal  to  formulate  single  transfer  policy  for  the  Government employees as guidelines for transfer/posting of employees depend on the specific requirement of individual Ministries/ Departments. Moreover, the State Public Services are under State List for which the State Governments are competent to make rules and policies. Accordingly, there is no proposal  to  constitute  any  commission  for  single  transfer  policy  for  both  Central  &  State employees.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Interview at Lower Level in Government Jobs
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1314

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018)

## INTERVIEW AT LOWER LEVEL IN GOVERNMENT JOBS

## †1314. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  discontinued  holding  interview  for  lower  grades  in Government jobs and make recruitment on the basis of written examinations/eligibility;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken, if any, in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c):   The Government of India has decided to dispense with the interview for recruitment to all Group 'C', Group 'D' (which are now reclassified as Group 'C'), Group 'B' (non-gazetted) and all equivalent posts from 1 st January, 2016 in its Ministries/ Departments/ Attached offices/ Subordinate  Office/  Autonomous  Bodies/  Public  Sector  Undertakings.  All  the  advertisement after  01.01.2016  for  future  vacancies  are  required  to  be  without  interview  as  part  of  the recruitment process for such posts.

Further, it has been made clear that since the skill test or physical test is different from interview, such tests may continue. However, these tests are only qualifying in nature.

It has further been decided that in case of specific posts for which any particular Central Ministry/  Department  considers  interview  absolutely  essential,  clearance  of  Department  of Personnel & Training (DoPT) would be obtained.

Staff  Selection  Commission,  a  major  central  recruitment  agency,  has  discontinued interview for all Competitive Recruitment Examinations w.e.f. 1.1.2016.

State Governments and Union Territories have also come forward and initiated steps for discontinuation of interviews in junior level posts. As per information available so far, 21 States and 7 Union Territories have adopted the policy of discontinuation of interview in lower level posts.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Survey for New Rail Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## SURVEY FOR NEW RAIL LINES

## † 1313. SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether survey for new rail line from Jabalpur to MandlaRajnandgaon had been conducted by the Government in the recent years;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether survey had been conducted for Jabalpur to Mandla, Dindori Pendra in Madhya Pradesh too and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (c): Reconnaissance Engineering Cum Traffic (RECT) Survey was completed for Jabalpur-Rajnandgaon via Bemetra, Kawardha, Mandla (430 Km)  in year 2016 at a cost of ₹ 4930.82 Crore and ROR (+)  1.73%.    The  proposal  was  shelved  for  the  present  due  to  poor Rate  of  Return  (ROR),  poor  traffic  projection  and  severe  fund constraint.      Further,  RECT  Survey  for  new  line  BG  line  between Pendra - Amarkantak - Dindori - Mandla - Ghansour (200 Km) was sanctioned  by  Railway  Board  in  the  year  2017-18  vide  Blue  Book Item No.35 of 2018-19. Survey work has been taken up.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Women Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1312 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25/7/2018

## WOMEN SCIENTISTS

†1312. SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  grant  special  relaxation  to  the  women  scientists working in all research and academic institutions of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is any proposal for construction of residential complexes for them and also to provide creche facility in such institutions;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the action taken by the Government so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a) & (b):  Yes, Madam. In the pursuance of National Task Force recommendations, Government of  India took necessary steps in order to ensure growth of women scientists in their professional career. In 2010, DST started exclusive Training Calendar for Women Scientists. DST also conducts exclusive  training  programmes  for  women  scientists  on  leadership  development  to  improve managerial skills.  Department of  Bio-technology  (DBT) started  BioCARE (Biotechnology Career Advancement and re-orientation) programme in year 2010 for working and unemployed women scientists  to  support  them  in  Biotechnology  domain.  During  2013,  a  new  scheme  'Women Technology Parks' was started to establish WTPs in different geographic and agro-climatic zones of  the  country  for  improving  socio-economic  status  of  women  through  capacity  building.  In  the year  2014,  DST  revamped  all  the  women  specific  programmes  under  one  umbrella  programme known  as  KIRAN  (Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing).  The upper age limit to apply in Women Scientists Scheme was increased up to 57 years in 2014. In 2016, DST  started  Mobility  Scheme  to  address  relocation  issue  of  Women  Scientists  working  in Government sector.

(c)  to  (e):    Autonomous  Institutions  under  the  Ministry  have  established  crèche  and  residential facility on their respective campuses wherever women are present in significant number.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: VVPAT
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1310

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 25 th  JULY, 2018

## VVPAT

1310. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some political parties in the country, including those from Andhra Pradesh are insisting on Electronic Voting Machines with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether a few political parties are preferring the old ballot system over the EVM's; and
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Exemption from Aadhaar
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1307

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## EXEMPTION FROM AADHAAR

## 1307. SHRI A.P. JITENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the cases where people suffering from leprosy have stopped receiving pension for the lack of Aadhaar card;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  clarified  and  notified  any  alternatives  or  exemptions  for cases such as leprosy where it is not possible for the person to have his biometrics done, if so, the  details  of  the  exemptions  and  alternatives  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  having  no  such alternative or exemptions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR   ELECTRONICS AND  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S. S. AHLUWALIA)

(a),  (b)  and  (c): Department  of  Pension  and  Pensioners'  Welfare  (DoPPW),  deals  with policies  relating  to  Central  Civil  employee/pensioners.  As  per  information  received  from them, DoPPW is not aware of any case where people suffering from leprosy have stopped receiving pension for the lack of Aadhaar. To facilitate senior pensioners facing problems in submission  of  Digital  Life  Certificate  due  to  non-acceptance  of  their  biometric,  suitable instructions have been issued by OM No. 1/20/2016-P&PW(E) dated 14.11.2017 (available at http://doppw.gov.in/sites/default/files/LifeCertificate\_141117.pdf)  to  all  Pension  Disbursing Banks. It has been advised that where the fingerprints of a pensioner are not accepted by the system,  the  alternate  mechanism  of  biometric  i.e.  Iris  scanning  may  be  used.  In  case, however,  it  is  not  possible  to  have  Digital  Life  Certificate  either  through  finger  prints  or through Iris scanning, the physical life certificate submitted by the pensioner may be accepted to  avoid  any  harassment  to  the  pensioner.  In  any  case,    no  pensioner  should  be  returned without  accepting  his  life  certificate  on  account  of  non-acceptance  of  his  biometric  by  the system.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Fly Ash
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1306 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## 1306. SHRI  E.T. Mohammed Basheer

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- a) Whether any effort is made to make optimum utilization of fly ash as an environmentally sustainable and economically visible product;
- b) If so, the details thereof.

## ANSWER

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

Reply (a)&(b): As informed by Ministry of Power, ash produced by thermal power plants is a proven resource material for many applications of construction industries and currently is being utilized  in  Manufacture  of  Portland  Pozzolana  Cement  (PPC),  fly  ash  bricks/blocks/tiles manufacturing, road embankment construction & low lying area development, in agriculture as soil conditioner etc. Further, following efforts have been made to make optimum utilization of fly ash as an environmentally sustainable and economically viable product:

- i. GST rates on fly ash and its products have been reduced to 5%.
- ii. To facilitate 100% ash utilization by all coal based thermal power plants, a web portal for monitoring of fly ash generation and utilization data of Thermal Power Plants and a mobile based application titled 'ASHTRACK'  has  been  launched  by  the Government that will help to establish a link between fly ash users and power plants executives for obtaining fly ash for its use in various areas.
- iii. A Workshop and Video Conferences to make use of the Web Page for data updation have been conducted by CEA and NTPC.
- iv. Ash-park has been developed and awareness programme for utilisation of fly ash and its products have been conducted.

-----
Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: MoU regarding Electoral Management
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1302

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 25 th  JULY, 2018

## MoU REGARDING ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT

## 1302. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  signed  the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with Suriname on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the achievement and amount spent on it as on date;

- (c) the details of the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of organizational and technical development of electoral process; and
- (d)  the  details  of  bilateral  cooperation  and  technical  assistance  extended  in  electoral management and administration till date?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

- (a): The Government has approved the proposal for signing of Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Government of Suriname but the MoU has not been signed yet.

(b): Does not arise.

- (c)  and  (d):    The  Commission  has  informed  that  so  far  no  exchange  of  knowledge    and experience between ECI and Government of Suriname has taken place on bilateral basis.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Jurisdiction over Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## + 1300. श्री शरद वत्रपाठीीः

क्या विवध और न्याय मंत्री यह बताने की कृ पा करेंगे कक :

- ( क ) क्या सरकार को विकदत है कक कवतपय राज्य विला न्यायालयों का क्षेत्रावधकार अभी भी विला प्रशासन के क्षेत्रावधकार में आता है ;
- ( ख ) यकद हां , तो ऐसे न्यायालयों का ब्यौरा क्या है िहां विला न्यायालयों के कायय की देखरेख प्रशासवनक अवधकारी करते हैं ;
- ( ग ) विला प्रशासन को विला न्यायालयों से अलग नहीं करने के क्या कारण हैं ; और ( घ ) ऐसे विला न्यायालयों को कब तक विला प्रशासन से अलग ककए िाने की संभािना है ?

## उत्तर

## विवध और न्याय तथा कारपोरेट कायय राज्य मंत्री ( श्री पी . पी . चौधरी )

- ( क ) और ( ख ) : उच् च न् यायालयों के महारविस् ट्रारों से प्राप् त सूचना के अनुसार वनम् नवलवखत विलों में प्रशासवनक अवधकाररयों द्वारा न् यावयक कायय ककया िाता है ;
- (i) असम का पश् वचम कारबी ऐंगलोंग विला ;
- (ii) मेघालय का उत् तरी गारो वहल , विला रेसुबलपारा ; दवक्षणी गारो वहल् स , विला बाघमारा , पूिी िैनरटया वहल विला , खैलीहेररट और दवक्षणी पश् वचमी खासी वहल विला , मिक् यारित ।
- ( ग ) और ( घ ) : पश् वचमी कारबी ऐंगलोंग विले में न् यायालय अिसंरचना को मिबूत ककया िा रहा है और गोिाहाटी उच् च न् यायालय की वसफाररशों के अनुसरण में अवतररक् त विला न् यायाधीश और मुंवसफ -सह -मविस् ट्रेट के पदों िो कामरुप ( मैट्रो ) विले में ररक् त थे को पविमी कारबी ऐंगलोंग विले में न् यायालय अिसंरचना की स् थापना के पररणामस् िरुप न् यावयक अवधकाररयों द्वारा न् यावयक कायय करने को समथय बनाने के वलए स् थानांतररत करने का विवनश् चय वलया गया है ।

मेघालय में अस् थायी कोटय अिसरंचना की ि् यिस् था की गई है और राि् य सरकार उपरोक् त उल् वलवखत चार विलों में विला न् यायालय से विला प्रशासन के पृथक् करण को अंवतम रुप देने के वलए कदम उठा रही है ।

## भारत सरकार

विवध और न्याय मंत्रालय

न्याय विभाग

लोक सभा

विसका उत्तर बुधिार , िुलाई , 2018 को कदया िाना है

## अतारांककत प्रश्न सं . 1300 25

## न्यायालयों का क्षेत्रावधकार

## ******************
Lok Sabha Question No. 1299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Inter-Ministerial Task Force
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## 1299.

## SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  an  Inter-Ministerial  Task  Force  (IMTF)  to undertake  a comprehensive  review  of  existing coal  sources  of  Independent  Power Producers  (IPPs)  having  linkages  and  consider  the  feasibility  for  rationalisation  of  these sources with a view to optimize transportation cost;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  methodology  for  linkage  rationalisation  of  power  producers  has  been accepted by the Government recently; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1299

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.7.2018

## Inter-Ministerial Task Force

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL & FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  &  (b): Yes,  Madam.   An  Inter-Ministerial  Task  Force  (IMTF)  was  constituted  in  July, 2017  to undertake a comprehensive review of existing coal sources of IPPs having linkages and  consider  the  feasibility  for  rationalization  of  these  sources  with  a  view  to  optimize transportation cost given the various technical constraints. The underlying objective behind the exercise was to reduce the landed cost of coal due to reduction in transportation cost.

- (c)  &  (d): The  methodology for linkage rationalization  for IPPs  has  been  accepted  by  the Government and the same has been circulated on 15.05.2018 to the CIL/SCCL to implement the methodology.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Pending Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), RANJEET RANJAN, MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1298 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS

## †1298.   SHRI  RAJESH RANJAN:

## SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN: SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether approximately 300 railway projects are pending at present;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor and the measures being taken by the Ministry to expedite these pending railway projects;
- (c) whether  disappointment  over  the  performance  of  Railways was  expressed  in  the  Urban  Mobility  India  Conference  and Expo 2015 mandated by the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  as  per  the  Urban  Mobility  India  (UMI),  Rs.  3  lakh crore and additional amount of Rs. 1 lakh crore are required for  the  completion  of  pending  projects  and  doubling  of railway tracks respectively; and
- (e) if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  mobilise funds?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1298 BY SHRI  RAJESH RANJAN, SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN AND SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 25.07.2018 REGARDING PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS (a) & (b):   At present, 500 Railway projects including 180 New Lines, 57  Gauge  Conversion  and  263  Doubling  Projects  are  in  different stage  of  execution.  The  completion  of  Railway  projects  requires clearances  from  various  departments  of  State  Government  and Central Ministries like acquisition of land, statutory clearances like forestry  and  wild  life,  shifting  of  utilities  etc.    leading  to  delay  in completion  of  projects.    For  timely  completion  of  the  projects, Railway  is  holding  regular  meetings  with  State  Government  and concerned Central Government officials on various issues involving alignment, land acquisition, forestry and wild life clearances, shifting of utilities etc. For important projects, capacity enhancement  projects,  last  mile  connectivity  etc,    institutional financing has been done by arranging loan from M/s Life Insurance Corporation of India Limited for 1.5 lakh crore,  which  has increased  Railways'  capacity  for  committed  fund  provision  for essential projects. (c):  No, Madam. (d):    Urban  Mobility  India  (UMI)  is  an  annual  conference  organized under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The main objective of the UMI is to share and disseminate knowledge to the participants and to help them remain up to date with best practices on  urban  transport.  UMI  is  not  concerned  with  the  completion  of pending railway projects. (e):  Does not arise.

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