Lok Sabha Question No. 3550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Laying of Railway Tracks by Private Companies
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Kuldeep Rai Sharma

(a)  02 (two).

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3550 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## LAYING OF RAILWAY TRACKS BY PRIVATE COMPANIES

## 3550.  DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  private  companies  who  have  been  entrusted  by Railways  to  supply  railway  tracks  during  each  of  the  last  three years;
- (b)  the  reasons  for  engaging  private  companies  along  with  the volume of work and the terms and conditions laid down for the said work;
- (c) the length of rail tracks laid daily during the last three years and at present;
- (d)  the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  complete  laying  of  rail tracks on time and the outcome thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  float  a  global  tender  to procure rail tracks; and
- (f)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(b)  Steel  Authority  of  India  Limited  (SAIL)  is  a  regular  supplier  of 90UTS  rails  to  Indian  Railways  (IR),  but  from  2015-16  to  2019-20 SAIL  was  unable  to  meet  full  requirement  of  IR.  Hence,  two developmental  orders  were  placed  on  M/s  Jindal  Steel  &  Power Limited (JSPL). One for supply of 1.26 Lakh Metric Tonne (MT) was placed by IR and another for supply of 0.89 Lakh MT was placed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Since  SAIL  was  not  manufacturing  Head  Hardened  rails,  RVNL awarded an order for supply of 6700 MT to M/s East Metal AG and a developmental order  for supply of 3000 MT to M/s JSPL.

All  these  orders  were  placed  as  per  IRS  Conditions  of  Contract (Stores).

(c) The details of rail tracks laid daily (average per day), including both  for  new  and  maintenance  replacement,  during  the  last  three years and at present is as under:-

| Year                      |   Track laid per day (in km) |
|---------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2017-18                   |                        17.17 |
| 2018-19                   |                        21.53 |
| 2019-20                   |                        20.29 |
| 2020-21 (upto 28.02.2021) |                        21.04 |

- (d) Following efforts are being taken for timely completion of track laying :
- i. Track renewal works are sanctioned every year on the basis of traffic carried, condition etc. and their execution is prioritized according to condition of track and overall availability of funds.
- ii. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track machines  like  PQRS,  TRT,  T-28  etc.  to  improve  progress  of track renewal along with ensuring quality.
- iii. Better availability of funds for track renewal through Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh  (RRSK).
- iv. Improvement  in  quantum  of  supply  of  rails  through  close coordination with SAIL.
- v. Maximising supply of 10 Rail/20 Rail long panels for increasing progress of rail renewal and avoiding welding of joints, thereby ensuring safety.
- vi. Prioritization of projects.
- vii. Substantial increase in allocation of funds on priority projects.
- viii. Regular  follow  up  with  State  Governments  and  concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition, forestry and Wildlife clearances and for resolving other issues pertaining to projects.

This has resulted in substantial increase in pace of laying of tracks from 2014 onwards.

(e) No, Sir.

(f)  It  is  expected  that  domestic  rail  manufacturers  will  be  able  to meet the rail requirement of IR.

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