Lok Sabha Question No. 5150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Separate Counters for Women/Senior Citizens
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Pintu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5150 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2019

## SEPARATE COUNTERS FOR WOMEN/SENIOR CITIZENS

†5150. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government proposes to open separate ticket reservation  counters  at  Sitamarhi  and  Janakpur  road  railway stations  in  Bihar  for  women,  senior  citizens  and  physically disabled persons;
- (b) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  upgrade  Janakpur Road and Sitamarhi railway stations; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  5150  BY  SHRI  SUNIL  KUMAR PINTU  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.07.2019 REGARDING SEPARATE COUNTERS FOR WOMEN/SENIOR CITIZENS

(a)  &  (b):  Separate  reservation  counters  are  earmarked  at various Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centres for dealing with  the  reservation  requisitions  received  from  persons  with disability, senior citizens, former Members of Parliament, Members  of  Legislative  Assembly,  accredited  journalists  and freedom  fighters,  if  the  average  demand  per  shift  is  not  less than 120 tickets. In case there is no justification for earmarking of an exclusive counter for any of these categories of  persons  including  ladies,  senior  citizens,  or  persons  with disability, one or two counters depending upon the total demand are earmarked for dealing with the reservation requests for all these categories of persons.  Further, as per extant guidelines, if  the  daily  average  number  of  transactions  at  any  reservation counter  is  180  or  more,  Railways  can  take  action  to  open additional reservation counters subject to availability of manpower, space and other infrastructure.

At  Sitamarhi  and  Janakpur  Road  Railway  stations,  one reservation  counter  functioning  in  both  the  shifts  has  been provided at both the stations. An  analysis of  number  of reservation related transactions has revealed that on an average 225 transactions are handled at Sitamarhi per day (approximately  113  transactions  per shift) whereas  that  at

Janakpur  Road  is  60  per  day.  As  such,  at  present,  there  is  no justification to open separate additional reservation counter for ladies,  senior  citizens  and  persons  with  disability  at  Sitamarhi and Janakpur Road Railway stations.

(c) & (d): Sitamarhi & Janakpur Road Railway stations fall under NSG4  &  NSG5  category  stations respectively. These two stations have also been  developed under 'Adarsh Station Scheme'. Passenger amenities more than the minimum essential amenities required as per norms for these category of stations  have  been  provided  at  Janakpur  Road  and  Sitamarhi Railway stations. Moreover, upgradation of stations by providing additional amenities is a continuous and ongoing exercise. *****