Lok Sabha Question No. 2446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Adarsh Bharat Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## ADARSH BHARAT RAILWAY STATION

2446. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  provide  Vande  Bharat  express  trains  to Kerala and if so, the details of proposed routes being considered for the same;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  started  providing  funds  for  development  of 'Adarsh  Bharat'  railway  stations  in  Kerala  and  if  so,  the  details  regarding  the same;
- (c) whether the Government has noticed that file for redevelopment of Calicut railway  station  is  pending  with  Rail  Land  Development  Authority  (RLDA)  for  a long period of time and if so, the details of steps taken to resolve the same;
- (d) the number of passenger grievances that are registered at Kozhikode railway station and if so, the details of steps taken to redress the same; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  parking  charges  for  vehicles  at railway stations is huge when compared to paid parking at other areas and if so, the details of steps taken to ensure that  parking charges are minimal for the customers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2446  BY  SHRI  M.K.  RAGHAVAN  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 15.03.2023 REGARDING ADARSH BHARAT RAILWAY STATION

- (a)  Indian  Railways  do  not  operate  train  services  on  State-wise  basis  as  the railway  network  straddles  across  State  boundaries.   However,  introduction  of train services, including Vande Bharat Express, is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, resource availability, traffic justification etc.
- (b) Up-gradation/modernization/beautification of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous  and  on-going  process.  Development  of  stations  and  provision  of Passenger  amenities  are  generally  funded  under  Plan  Head  -  53  'Customer Amenities'.  The  details  of  allocation  and  expenditure  for  development  and maintenance of stations are maintained zonal Railway-wise and not state-wise or  station-wise.  Stations  in  the  States  of  Kerala  are only  catered  by  Southern Railway.  The  details  of  funds  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred  by  the Southern  Railway  under  Plan  Head-53  'Customer  Amenities',  during  last  three years  and  current  year  i.e.  2019-20,  2020-21,  2021-22  and  current  year  (till January, 2023) is as under:-

(in crore of ₹ )

| Year    |   Allocation | Expenditure                |
|---------|--------------|----------------------------|
| 2019-20 |       111.55 | 114.44                     |
| 2020-21 |       213.11 | 204.71                     |
| 2021-22 |       218.22 | 154.23                     |
| 2022-23 |       327.78 | 108.34 (Till January,2023) |

- (c)  Calicut  Railway  Station  has  been  identified  and  selected  for  Technoeconomic  feasibility  studies  for  redevelopment  and  assigned  to  Rail  Land Development Authority for carrying out such studies. Techno-economic feasibility  studies  for  redevelopment  of  a  Railway  Station  is  a  complex  and

iterative process involving interactions with multiple stakeholders and as such no timelines can be assigned for such studies. (d)  During  the  financial  year  2022-23  (upto  February,  2023),  a  total  of  298 passenger  grievances  were  registered  on  Rail  Madad  at  Kozhikode  railway station.  These  complaints  on  Rail  Madad  are  auto  assigned  to  the  concerned functionaries  on  real  time  basis  for  redressal.  All  298  grievances  have  been redressed with an average disposal time of 0:37 (in hours).

(e)  Parking charges for vehicles at railway station are fixed by Zonal Railways duly  considering  the  rates  prevailing  at  similar  locations  of  the  city/area. Periodical review of parking charges are also done.

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