Lok Sabha Question No. 3543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Demands for Various Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3543

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## DEMANDS FOR VARIOUS FACILITIES

†3543. SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  keeps  on  receiving  proposals  in  respect  of necessary demands by the public like starting of new trains, increasing rail stoppages and extension of rail routes;
- (b)  if  so,  the  State-wise  details  of  the  proposals  received,  pending  and sanctioned in this regard in the country including Uttarakhand during the last two years;
- (c) whether the Government contemplates to make requisite parameters more flexible  viewing  the  demand  as  necessary  and  strategically  important  for public despite being not economically viable; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- ( a)  and  (b)  Indian  Railways  receive  a  large  number  of  requests  inter-alia  for introduction  of  new  trains,  provision  of  stoppages,    extension  of  rail  routes etc. at various levels of Railway administration, a centralized compendium of which  is  not  maintained.    Further,  administratively,  Indian  Railways  do  not operate trains on state-wise basis and accordingly, the railway projects are also  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise  and  not  State-  wise.  However,  these

requests, to the extent possible, are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time. During the year 2018-19 and 2019-20, 87 projects in the country (20 New Line, 1 Gauge conversion, 66 Doubling Works) of a total length of 8,132 km costing ` 95,548 Crore were included in the Budget subject to requisite approvals. As on 01.04.2020, 04 Railway projects falling fully/partly in the State of Uttarakhand  (03  New  Line  and  01  Doubling  works)  of  243  km  length, costing approx. ` 18,904 Crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which 23 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 2519  Crore  has  been  incurred  upto March, 2020.  Average  Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works, falling fully/partly in State of Uttarkhand during 2014-19, has increased to ` 672 crore per year from ` 187 crore per  year (during 2009-14), i.e  259% more.  For financial year 2021-22, highest ever budget outlay of ` 4432 crore has  been  proposed  for  these  works,  which  is  2270%  more  than  average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. No project was included in the budget falling fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Uttarakhand  during  the  last  two  years.  Besides, during  the  said  period  in  all  304  trains  (in  single),  including  12091/12092 Kathgodam - Dehradhun Jan Shatabdi Express (5 days a week), serving the stations  located  in  the  State  of  Uttarakhand  have  been  introduced  in  the country by Indian Railways. (c)  and  (d):  Introduction  of  trains  and  provision  of  stoppages  is  an  ongoing process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  availability  of  resources,  operational feasibility and commercial justification. Besides, extension of rail routes are taken  up  on  the  basis  of  remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing links and alternate routes,  augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socioeconomic considerations etc. depending upon liability of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

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