Lok Sabha Question No. 4750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Improvement in Productivity
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Subrata Pathak, Ravindra Kushawaha, Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4750

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY

## 4750.SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Indian  Railways  has  been  continuously  making  efforts  to optimize and reduce the costs and further improve all productivities to make this year an exceptional year in spite of Covid-19 and if so, the details in this regard;
- (b) whether any area has so far been identified for improvement;
- (c) if so, the details of the operational cost of the Indian Railways since March 2020;
- (d) whether  Railways  has  played  an  important  role  during  the  above period  by  providing  their  services  to  meet  the  domestic  consumer demands and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which record capex allocation in the historic budget is an opportunity for capacity expansion and creating the foundation of future ready Railways in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.4750  BY  SHRI  SUBRAT  PATHAK,  SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA, SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT, SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU, SHRI RAVI KISHAN, SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE, SHRI SUDHEER  GUPTA,  SHRI  BIDYUT  BARAN  MAHATO  AND  SHRI  SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY.

(a) & (b) : There has been a continuous endeavor on part of the Railways to optimize and reduce the costs and further improve all productivities. As a result of various measures taken in this regard, the Railways have been able  to  substantially  control  the  growth  of  Ordinary  Working  Expenses during the current fiscal so far.  Apart from this, austerity and economy measures  are  being  regularly  enforced  in  Railways  in  order  to  ensure savings in the operating expenditure.

The steps taken by the Ministry of Railways to optimize and reduce the costs are as under:

-  Tight  monitoring  and  control  over  expenditure  in  areas  such  as fuel/power consumption, contractual payments, purchase of materials etc.
-  Energy audit of major load centres, effecting savings in electricity bills through purchase of power by railways as 'distribution licensee'.
-  Prioritization  of  expenditure  on  works/activities  for  better  use  of available resources.
-  Improvement in Manpower productivity.
-  Improvement in asset utilization by taking innovative measures and best practices available.
-  Improvement in inventory management.
-  Reducing the cost of operation and maintenance of rolling stock.

(c):    The  operational  cost  of  the  railway  since  March  2020  to  February 2021 is ` 1,34,361 cr (including expenditure for the month of March'2020). (d):    Railway  has  played  an  important  role  during  the  current  pandemic situation.  During the lockdown period, the freight services of the railways have  run  in full  swing  transporting  the  essential  commodities  like foodgrains, coal, medicine etc. and ensuring the supply chains across the country. Further, Sharmik special trains were also run to  move over 6.3 million stranded persons as per the demand of various State Governments.  In  the  post  lockdown  phase,  the  passenger  services  are being progressively resumed as per demand, suggestions and requirements of State Government and COVID protocol. (e):  Capital  Outlay  for  2021-22  has  been  fixed  at  an  all  time  high  of ` 2,15,058 crore. The thrust of the Budget is on infrastructure development, throughput enhancement, development of terminal facilities, augmentation  of  speed  of  trains,  signalling  systems,  improvement  of passengers/users' amenities, safety works of road over/under bridges etc. Focused  allocation  has  been  made  for  New  Lines,  Gauge  Conversion, Doubling, Electrification Projects, Rolling Stock, Road Over/Under Bridges, Track Renewal, Passenger Amenities, Investment in Public Sector Undertaking/Joint  Venture/Special  Purpose  Vehicles  and  Metropolitan Transport Projects. This will propel the Railways  into fast track development of infrastructure and capacity enhance for laying foundation of future ready Railways.

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