Lok Sabha Question No. 1716 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: Upgradation of Services/Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1716

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2022

## UPGRADATION OF SERVICES/FACILITIES

1716. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of new initiatives which are being taken in the matter of new trains and upgradation of services and facilities;
- (b)  the  details  and  reasons  behind  the  Government's  decision  to  allow the private sector to run 151 trains in 109 pairs of routes;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  as  a  result  of  private participation,  two  types  of  fares  as  well  as  trains  may  come  into existence and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  trying  to  make  travelling  costlier  for making privatisation easier and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  Indian  Railways(IR)  for  better  travelling  experience  of  passengers have undertaken the following initiatives:-
- (i)  Introduction  of  State-of  the-art  Train-set  Vande  Bharat  services, which  have  ultra  modern  features  like  quick  acceleration,  on  board infotainment  and  Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  based  passenger information  system,  automatic  sliding  doors,  retractable  footsteps  and Zero  discharge  vacuum  bio  toilets  etc.  Presently,  02  pairs  of  Vande

Bharat  Express  viz.    New  Delhi-Varanasi  and  New  Delhi-Shri  Mata Vaishno Devi Katra are operational. Further, in the Union Budget, 202223, announcement for 400 new generation Vande Bharat trains has been made.

(ii)  Premium  train  services  like  Tejas,  Humsafar,  Antyodaya,  Utkrisht Double Decker Air conditioned Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, which have upgraded interiors/exteriors and improved  passenger  amenities,  have  been  introduced  in  service  in various train services over IR. (iii)  Proliferation  of  Linke  Hofman  Busch  (LHB)  coaches  in  place  of conventional  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF)  type  coaches  for  improved safety and  comfortable journey to the travelling passengers. (iv)  Induction  of  Vistadome  coaches  which  provide  panoramic  view, through  wider  body  side  windows  as  well  as  through  transparent sections in the roof, thereby enabling the passengers to enjoy the scenic beauty  of  the  places  through  which  they  travel.  Recently,  Vistadome coaches on LHB platform have also been introduced.

Moreover, augmentation/improvement of passenger amenities on Indian Railways  is  also  a  continuous  and  on-going  process.  Initiatives  in  this regard taken by Indian Railways at railway stations are indicated below:

(i)  At  the  time  of  construction  of  station,  Minimum  Essential  Amenities (MEA)  is  provided  as  per  norms  based  on  the  category  of  station. Recommended and desirable amenities are further escalated from time to time with growth in passenger traffic at stations, based on needs and expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds. However, with a view to meet the expectations of the rail users, Indian Railways is making  all  out  efforts  to  provide  improved  amenities/facilities  at  all railway stations and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon volume of the passenger traffic and inter-se priority subject to availability of funds. (ii)  Recently, Ministry of Railways has launched a scheme of major upgradation of railway stations for redevelopment. So far 52 stations have been  identified  for  redevelopment  under  this  scheme.  The  facilities envisaged  in  this  scheme  includes  provision  of  roof  plaza/concourse wherever feasible where passengers and other users can wait comfortably and enjoy superior and well designed amenities like lounges, recreation  areas,  waiting  areas,  seating  arrangement,  shopping  areas, restaurants/cafeterias, tapped potable drinking water points, restrooms, WiFi, ATMs, medical facilities etc., integration with both sides of  the city as  far  as  possible  along  with  segregation  of  Arrival  and  Departure, lift/escalators/travelators for a comfortable movement, drop off, pick up & parking facilities for passengers. (b)  to  (d)  At  present,  there  is    no  proposal  for  operation  of  regular passenger trains by private operators.

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