Lok Sabha Question No. 1294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Strategic Rail Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, KIRRON KHER, ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1294 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## STRATEGIC RAIL LINES

## 1294.    SHRI KAMAL NATH:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  since  started  the  process  of building strategic railway lines along the international borders including China border;
- (b) if so, the details of such strategic railway lines decided to be built by Railways along international borders;
- (c) the estimated amount invested so far or likely to be invested in the next few years to build the strategic railway lines;
- (d) the time by which the task of building strategic railway lines along China border is likely to be completed;
- (e) whether the Railways has proposed to expand its network in the hilly and rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps the Ministry is taking to ensure safe usage of these lines,  and  monitor  infiltration,  weapon  transport  as  well  as other illegal activities prevalent on the border?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1294  BY  SHRI  KAMAL  NATH,  SHRI JYOTIRADITYA  M.  SCINDIA,  SHRIMATI  KIRRON  KHER  AND  SHRI ANOOP MISHRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 25.07.2018 REGARDING STRATEGIC RAIL LINES

- (a)  &  (b):      Ministry  of  Defence  has  identified  four  strategic  lines along  India-China  border  viz.  (i)  Missamari  -  Tenga  -  Tawang  (378 Km) (ii) Bilaspur - Manali - Leh (498 Km) (iii) Pasighat - Tezu - Rupai (227  Km)  and  (iv)  North  Lakhimpur  -  Bame  (Along)-Silapathar  (249 Km). Ministry of Defence has provided funds to Ministry of Railways for carrying out Final Location Survey (FLS) of these four indentified strategic lines and Ministry of Railways has taken up these FLS.
- (c)  &  (d):  Do  not  arise  as  the  projects  of  these  lines  are  not  yet sanctioned.
- (e):  Sanction of New Line Railway projects in hilly and rural areas is based on various factors including assessment of traffic  potential, sharing  of  cost  by  Stake  holders  including  State  Governments, financial viability, social consideration etc.
- (f):        Security  of  tracks  and  bridges  is  the  responsibility  of concerned District Police falling within the territorial jurisdictions of respective  States.  At  the  same  time,  detection  of  crime  and  their investigation in station premises and running trains are the statutory responsibility of Government Railway Police (GRP), a wing of State Police.

Railway Protection Force (RPF), which functions under the Ministry of  Railways,  ensures  protection  and  security  of  Railway  property across  Indian  Railways.  Besides,  RPF  is  supplementing  efforts  of GRPs of concerned States to check illegal activities and to detect passenger related offences in station premises and trains and hand over accuse persons to GRPs of respective States for further legal action.

State  Level  Security  Committee  for  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been constituted for all State/Union Territories (UTs) under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/UTs for regular monitoring and review of security arrangement for the Railways.

RPF also forms part of 'Multi Agency Center' (MAC) at Central and 'State Multi Agency Center' (SMAC) at State level and based on the inputs  shared  at  MAC/SMAC,  necessary  preventive  measures  are taken  in  coordination  with  State  agencies  to  strengthen  railway infrastructure and to check illegal activities.

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