opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Public Procurement Policy
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja, Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2164 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## PUBLIC PROCUREMENT POLICY

2164.  SHRI A. RAJA: SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
2. (a) whether  the  Railways  implemented  Public  Procurement  Policy, 2012;
3. (b) if so, the details thereof along with annual procurement plan made in  accordance  with  Public  Procurement  Policy  2012  of  each agency/zone of Indian Railways during the years 2018-19 and 201920; and
4. (c) the details of earmarking made under section 4 (related to SC/ST) of the policy and actual procurement during these years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2164 BY SHRI A. RAJA AND SHRI SANJAY KAKA  PATIL  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.03.2020 REGARDING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT POLICY

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): All procurements of Goods and Services, by Ministry of Railways, are in accordance with the Public Procurement Policy, 2012. Procurements, from Micro and Small Enterprises, made by the Ministry of  Railways, during the period as per the Public Procurement  Policy, 2012 are as follows:

| 2018-19      | 2019-20 (Upto January, 2020)   |
|--------------|--------------------------------|
| ₹ 14,464 cr. | ₹ 16,960.27cr.                 |

Procurements  by  Ministry  of  Railways  are  controlled  through  Union Budget approved by the Parliament.  All approved Budget documents are  available  on  the  website  of  Ministry  of  Railways,  which  includes sanctioned  plans  and  expenditure  heads  for  various  requirements. Further, all tenders of Ministry of Railways are issued online through Indian  Railways  Electronic  Procurement  System,  and  are  in  public domain.

(c):  Out  of  the  target  of  25%  of  annual  procurement  from  Micro  and Small  Enterprises,  4%  is  earmarked  for  procurement  from  Micro  and Small  Enterprises  owned  by  the  Scheduled  Caste  or  the  Scheduled Tribe,  provided  that  such  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  participate  in tenders and meet tender requirement and L1 price.

Extent of procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises owned by Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe in cases where such declaration has been given by vendors is as follows:

| 2018-19      | 2019-20 (Upto January, 2020)   |
|--------------|--------------------------------|
| ₹ 201.60 cr. | ₹ 99.88 cr.                    |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Sagarmala Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Margani Bharat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## SAGARMALA PROJECT

2163. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Krishnapatnam-Venkatachalam, Kakinada-Pithapuram doubling work with electrification under Sagarmala project has been taken up in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the current status of the projects and the estimated cost along with any time and cost overrun in this regard;
- (c) whether Bhadrachalam-Kovvuru new BG line has also been undertaken under Sagarmala project; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be completed?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and (b): Krishnapatnam-Venkatachalam double line with electrification has been completed and commissioned.

The  work  of  Kakinada-Pithapuram  new  line  was  included  in  the  Budget 1999-2000  subject  to  requisite  approvals.  The  work  could  not  be  taken forward due to lack of operational and financial justification. Subsequently, it was decided to re-examine the project. Since a long time had elapsed

………..2/-

and  ground  situation  and  development  activities  must  have  taken  place during the intervening period, updation of cost, traffic projections and the work  of  confirmation  of  feasibility  of  earlier  chosen  alignment  has  been taken up. Further consideration of the proposal is possible once updated results are firmed up.

(c) and (d) Bhadrachalam-Kovvuru project was included  in Budget 2012-13. Project was  sanctioned  on  50:50 cost sharing basis with Govt. of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. On the request of Government  of Telangana, alignment of the Project has been revised. Project further got delayed  on  account  of  final  decision  on  cost  sharing  arrangement  with state government of Telangana.

Completion of Railway project depends on many factors as land acquisitions,  statutory  clearances  from  various  authorities,  shifting  of utilities,  law  and  order  situation  in  the  project  area,  orders  of  Hon'ble Courts etc. Hence, no confirmed time frame can be fixed for completion of project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Conversion of Metre Gauge into Broad Gauge
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Akshaibar Lal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2162 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## CONVERSION OF METRE GAUGE INTO BROAD GAUGE

## †2162.   SHRI AKSHAIBAR LAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government proposes to convert the Metre Gauge line from Bahraich to Nepalganj via Nanpara of North-Eastern Railway into Broad Gauge;
- (b)  if so, the time by which the gauge conversion work is supposed to start; and
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to convert the metre gauge line into broad gauge for about 24 Kms. between Nanpara to Mihipurva station  which  is  the  Tahseel  headquarter  and  also  an  industrial town?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c):  Gauge conversion of Behraich to Mailani including Nanpara to  Nepal  Ganj  was  included  in  Railway  Budget  2016-17  subject  to requisite approvals. Presently, Gauge conversion of Bahraich-NanparaNepalganj is under consideration and section from Nanpara to Mailani via Mihipurua falling under Dudhwa National Park, will be retained as Metre Gauge (MG) section.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Women in Defence Services
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Khagen Murmu, Devendrappa Y

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2161

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  March, 2020

## WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES

2161. SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI):

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of women employed in the three wings of the defence forces, servicewise;
- (b) whether there has been an increase in the number of women joining the defence forces during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  schemes  being  introduced  by  the  Government  to  incentivise women to increase their participation in the defence forces?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- (a)  The current number of women in the three armed forces is as under:

| Indian Army      |   6892 |
|------------------|--------|
| Indian Air Force |   1878 |
| Indian Navy      |    685 |

(b) & (c):   Year-wise induction details of women in the three armed forces during the past three years and current year is as follows:

| Year             |   2017 |   2018 |   2019 | 2020             |
|------------------|--------|--------|--------|------------------|
| Indian Army      |    949 |    819 |    364 | 102              |
| Indian Air Force |    109 |     86 |     77 | 00               |
| Indian Navy      |     57 |     38 |     54 | 18 (in progress) |

(d)    Induction  of  women as soldiers in Military  Police.  1700 such posts have been sanctioned  to  be  spread  over  17  years.  101  women  have  started  their  training  in January this year at Corps of Military Police Training Centre, Bangalore.

All the branches/streams of Indian Air Force (IAF) are open to women officers. Opportunities  for  career  in  IAF  are  publicised  through  print/electronic  media  in accordance  with  the  policy  on  'Induction  and  Empowerment  of  Women  in  Armed Forces'.  The Government has commenced a scheme for induction of women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the fighter stream of the flying branch in the year 2015.  The IAF has also formulated the requisite gender neutral Air Hqr. Human Resource  Policies  (HRPs)  enabling  consideration  of  SSC  officers  for  permanent commission in all ventures of the IAF.

Indian Navy has also progressively increased the avenues for women to join the Naval Force from 3 branches in 1992 to 11 branches in 2019.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2160 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Assistance to Telecom Sector
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2160 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MARCH, 2020

## ASSISTANCE TO TELECOM SECTOR

## 2160.  SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to assist the telecom sector in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  intends  to  propose  a  plan  for  future  developments  in  the  telecom sector  keeping  in  mind  the  huge  Adjusted  Gross  Revenue  (AGR)  fees  required  to  be  paid  by  the companies and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the speculations regarding shutting down of Vodafone Idea company is true and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) Considering the stress in the sector, the Government has given an option to the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to defer payment of the spectrum auction instalments dues for 202021 and 2021-22, either for one or both years.
- (b) No such plan at present Sir.
- (c) No such information is available with the Government Sir.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Internet Connectivity Infrastructure
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2155 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MARCH, 2020

## INTERNET CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE

## 2155. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  enquiry  for  measuring  the  operating  strength  of  the internet connectivity infrastructure in both urban and rural areas of the country and if so, the details and the conclusions thereof;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the Government is taking or planning to take any action against telecom operators failing to provide adequate internet coverage and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) & (b) No such enquiry has been conducted by the Government. However, TRAI has been monitoring the performance of service providers against the benchmark for various Quality of Service parameters laid down by TRAI by way of Quality of Service regulations issued from time to time, through  Quarterly  Performance  Monitoring  Reports  (PMRs)  submitted  by  service  providers.  The performance is reported license area-wise and the performance is assessed for the service area as a whole.

- (c) Under Internet Service License agreement, Internet Service Provider (ISP) Licensees has no mandatory  internet  coverage  obligation.  Expansion  of  Internet  service  depends  on  the  business decision of the ISP Licensees.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: IMEI Cloning
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Queen Oja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MARCH, 2020

## IMEI CLONING

## †2154.  DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: SHRIMATI QUEEN OJA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of incidents of mobile IMEI cloning have increased due to which cyber criminals are succeeding in their motive and if so, the details thereof and the number of such incidents reported during the last three years‹ State/UT-wise along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government is formulating any plan to block IMEI number of lost mobiles;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of the problems coming in the way of blocking IMEI number?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) The data in respect of increase in incidents of mobile IMEI cloning is not available.

To  address  the  issue  of  the  tampering  of  the  International  Mobile  Equipment  Identity  (IMEI), Government has published the rules called  'The  prevention  of  tampering  of  the  Mobile  Device  Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017' in the Gazette of India on 25.08.2017.

(b) to (e) The Government has launched Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) project in Delhi and  Maharashtra  for  blocking  and  tracing  of  stolen  or  lost  mobile  phones.  A  phased  approach  has  been envisaged for pan India implementation of the project. The salient features of project include following:

- (i) Request for blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones by customer.
- (ii) Blocking of such mobile phones across mobile networks.
- (iii) Allowing services to other existing customers having mobile phones with same International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)number.
- (iv) Sharing of traceability data with Police Authorities.
- (v) Unblocking of recovered/found stolen or lost mobile phones.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2153 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: 5G Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2153 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MARCH, 2020

## 5G SERVICES

## 2153. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the country is ready for the introduction of 5G services and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the timeline fixed by the Government for the upgradation of infrastructure for the launch of 5G services;
- (c) the timeline fixed by the Government for the 5G spectrum auction and its commercial launch;
- (d) the sectors in which 5G facility will be extended; and
- (e) the economic impact of introducing 5G services across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a)  to  (e)  The  inter-ministerial  High  Level  Forum  (HLF)  for  5G  India  2020  was  constituted  in September,  2017  had  submitted  its  report  'Making  India  5G  Ready'.    Based  on  the  report,  the Government is creating an enabling framework for deployment of affordable and secure 5G services in  India.  The  5G  services  are  expected  to  be  introduced  gradually  and  advance  to  a  full  range  of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows.  The radio spectrum and the telecom licenses awarded by the Government  are technology neutral and can facilitate deployment of any networks/services.

5G technology has the potential for ushering a  major societal transformation by enabling  a rapid expansion of the role of information technology across manufacturing, educational, healthcare, agricultural, financial and social sectors. According to HLF report, the cumulative economic impact of 5G on India can reach US $ 1 Trillion by 2035.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Coal Blocks
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2150

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## Coal Blocks

## 2150. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  names  of  the  coal  blocks  in  Chhattisgarh  for  which  the  Government  has  received request for auction/allotment;
- (b)  whether  the  State  Government  is  bearing  loss  of  royalty  due  to  long  pendency  of auction/allotment of coal blocks; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons due to which auction of coal block situated in Chhattisgarh is stalled?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a)  to  (c): Requests  have  been received from Government of Chhattisgarh for allocation of Tara, Morga-I, Morga-II and Durgapur-II/Sarya coal mines located in Chhattisgarh. Durgapur-II/Sarya coal mine has been allotted to KPCL for the purpose of own consumption for Power on 16.12.2019. Of the remaining 3 mines, two coal mines are falling under areas which need to be conserved and should be avoided (Tara & Morga-I) and one coal mine is in High  Conservation  Value  zone  (Morga-II),  as  conveyed  by  MoEF&CC.  Also,  a  matter  in respect of Tara coal mine is sub judice.

Out of 42 coal mines under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 that are located in Chhattisgarh, 17 coal mines have so far been allocated. Of these 17 mines, 3 mines, namely,  Durgapur-II/Taraimar,  Durgapur-II/Sarya  and  Bhaskarpara  have  been  allocated  in the recently concluded tranches of auction and allotment. And, of the remaining 25 mines that are unallocated, 7 mines are in High Conservation Value Zone as conveyed by MoEF&CC, 7 mines  fall  in  area  which  needs  to  be  conserved  and  should  be  avoided  as  conveyed  by MoEF&CC and the matter in respect of 3 mines is sub judice .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Visa on Arrival
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gautam Gambhir

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## VISA-ON-ARRIVAL

## 2145. SHRI GAUTAM GAMBHIR:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government is   working   on   any   arrangements   with countries in Europe and North America for grant of visa on arrival to Indian   citizens   in   addition   to   those   where   such   arrangements already exist; and
- (b) If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) No such arrangement is currently being worked out with countries in Europe and North America for grant of visa on arrival to Indian citizens.  While issuance of visa and visa related process is the sovereign and unilateral decision of the respective country, the matter regarding easier and liberalized visa policy for Indian nationals is taken up regularly in bilateral meetings/ forums with foreign countries.   It may be also noted that presently India also does not provide visa on arrival to citizens of countries in Europe and North America.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2143 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: New Export Incentive Scheme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2143

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th MARCH, 2020

## NEW EXPORT INCENTIVE SCHEME

## 2143.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is working on a new export incentive scheme;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  on  how the  proposed  scheme  is  different  from  the  existing  Merchandise Export from India Scheme;
- (c) whether the new scheme is World Trade Organization (WTO) -compliant; and
- (d) if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  and  details  on  how  the  Government  is  planning  to  maneuver through the WTO conditions?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) &  (b): The Government is formulating a Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes  on  Exported  Products  (RoDTEP)  under  which  a  mechanism  would  be created for re-imbursement of taxes/ duties/ levies, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism, at the central, state and local level, but which are incurred in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products. RoDTEP is based on the principle that taxes and levies borne on the exported products should be either exempted or remitted to exporters unlike the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) , which is an export incentive scheme.
- (c)    &  (d): RoDTEP  Scheme  is  being  conceptualized  keeping  in  view the  WTO provisions, particularly the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2142 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Elevation of Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Ajay (Teni) Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2142 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## ELEVATION OF RAILWAY STATIONS

†2142. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of railway stations elevated in the country during the last five years especially in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal; and
- (b)  the  facilities  provided  to  the  passengers  on  the  said  elevated stations?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) and (b): Upgradation/modernization of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process.

Presently, Railway stations are upgraded/modernized under 'Adarsh' Station Scheme based on identified need of providing better enhanced passenger amenities at stations.

In  the  state  of  West  Bengal,  384  stations  have  been  identified under  Adarsh  Station  Scheme  and  all  these  stations  have  been upgraded/developed under this scheme. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, 152  stations  have  been  identified  under  Adarsh  Station  Scheme. Against this, 127 stations have been upgraded/developed and remaining 25 stations are planned to be developed by 2020-21.

In West  Bengal  and Uttar Pradesh, under soft-upgradation scheme, various passenger amenities which, inter-alia, include improvement to façade of the station building, retiring room, waiting room  (with  bathing  facilities),  separate  waiting  room  for  ladies, landscaping of circulating area, earmarked parking,  signages, Pay & Use  toilets,  Foot  Over  Bridge,  ramps  at  entry  to  station  etc.  are provided at these Railway stations as per the respective category of the  station  depending  upon  need,  volume  of  passenger  traffic  and inter-se priority, subject to availability of funds. Additionally,  in  financial  year  2018-19,  07  stations  of  Uttar Pradesh namely Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Prayagraj Junction, Jhansi,  Mathura,  Varanasi  City,  Izzatnagar  &  Gorakhpur  and  05 stations in West Bengal namely Asansol, Howrah, Sealdah, Darjeeling and Adra have been substantially upgraded.

*****