Lok Sabha Question No. 496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Operation Dhanush
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Meenakashi Lekhi, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Bhagwanth Khuba, Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.496

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.11.2019

## OPERATION DHANUSH

## 496. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  many  new  trains  during  the year 2019 including increase in frequency of weekly train from Balurghat to Howrah and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  calendar  for  launch  of new trains across various railway zones of India and if so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Indian  Railways  has  carried  out  recently  a  pan  India Operation Dhanush against ticket touts and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Indian  Railways  has  been  hit  hard  by  the  economic slowdown  as  crores  of  revenue  loss  is  reported  from  passenger  and freight fares;
- (e) if  so  ,  the  details  thereof  including  the  Government's  reaction thereto; and
- (f) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  and  (b)  Increase  in  frequency  of  13063/13064  Balurghat-  Howrah Express has not been undertaken. This train is presently operating as a bi-weekly  service.  However,  introduction  of  trains  and  increase  in frequency of  train  services  is  an  on-going  process  on  Indian  Railways, subject to operational feasibility, resource availability,  commercial justification etc.
- (c)  No,  Sir.  No  Pan  India  drive  called  'Operation  Dhanush'  has  been launched  against  touts.    However,  two  Pan  India  drives,  'Operation

Storm' (2nd November, 2018) and 'Operation Thunder' (13th June, 2019) have been conducted. In 'operation storm'-211 touts were arrested and tickets worth ₹ 2.04 crores were seized and in 'Operation Thunder' 464 touts  were  arrested  and  ticket  worth ₹ 4.03  crores  were  seized. Railways carry out regular drives to prevent touting activities. A total of 2324 touts have been apprehended in the current financial year (up to September, 2019).

(d)  and  (e)  To  the  end  of  October  2019,  there  has  been  a  shortfall  of 67.16 million in originating passengers and 10.55 million tonne in loading over the corresponding period of previous financial year (COPPY). During this  period,  while  passenger  earnings  increased  by ₹ 997  cr,  freight earnings decreased by ₹ 2,389 cr over COPPY.  The growth of earnings in both  the  segments  has  been  less  than  the  budgeted  target.  Despite continuously  trying  to  enhance  passenger  and  freight  earnings  and having  taken  a  number  of  measures  towards  enhanced  passenger booking and loading, certain factors beyond the control of Railways like intense  competition  from  the  low  cost  airlines,  expanding  road  sector and the slowdown in the economy have adversely impacted the trend of earnings. However, the trends have been reviewed/ monitored regularly and the Zonal  Railways have been  instructed to act on various immediate and short-term measures to enhance the earnings.

(f)    Some  of  the  initiatives  taken  to  improve  passenger  traffic  and earnings are augmentation of on-board capacity, rationalization of Flexi fare  scheme,  extension  of  Alternate  Train  Accommodation  VIKALP scheme,  increase  in number  of  RAC  berths  to provide additional accommodation,  etc.  The  initiatives  taken  to increase  the freight earnings through private participation schemes such as General Purpose Wagon  Investment  Scheme  (GPWIS),  Liberalised  Wagon  Investment Scheme (LWIS), Special Freight Train Operator (SFTO), and Automobiles Freight Train Operator (AFTO) have been launched.

*****