Lok Sabha Question No. 5614 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Extension of Platforms
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5614 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## EXTENSION OF PLATFORMS

5614. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

- Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  identify,  expand  and  construct additional platforms with covered shed at various stations in the country including at Buniadpur in West Bengal, State-wise and if so, the details and the present status thereof; (b)  whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  raise  the  height  of  platform  at different  railway  stations  situated  in  West  Bengal  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; (c) the number of proposals received from West Bengal in this regard and the action taken thereon; (d) the norms for fixation of number of platforms at railway stations in the country; (e)  whether  the  Government  has  approved  any  scheme/project  for  the development of Balurghat Railway Station and if so, the details thereof and the budget provided for this project; and (f) the total budgetary allocation made and total funds utilized in providing
- facility at Balurghat Railway Station during the last three years?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(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.5614 BY DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.04.2022 REGARDING EXTENSION OF PLATFORMS

- (a)    Indian  Railways  reviews  the  requirement  of  additional  platforms  as well as extension of platforms with growth in volume of traffic and other various  relevant  factors.  Buniadpur  Railway  station  is  a  Non-suburban Grade-5  category  railway  station  under  Northeast  Frontier  Railway.  At Buniadpur Railway station one high level platform with platform shed of 56 sq.m. is available.
- (b)  Yes, Sir. In the state of West Bengal, out of the sanctioned platform raising  works at  105 nos. of stations, works at 94 nos. of stations have been completed.
- (c) The requests for extension and construction of additional platform are received from various stakeholders and action is taken by Railways based on  growth  in  volume  of  traffic  and  various  relevant  factors.  List  of proposals from State Governments is not maintained.
- (d)  Number  of  platforms  at  stations  are  provided  based  on  volume  of traffic/trains and technical feasibility.
- (e) and (f) The details of allocation and expenditure for development and maintenance of stations are maintained zonal Railway-wise not State-wise or  station-wise.  Passenger  amenities  are  generally  funded  under  Plan Head  -  53  'Passenger  Amenities'.  Balurghat  Railway  Station  falls  under Northeast Frontier Railway. The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred  by  Northeast  Frontier  Railway  under  Plan  Head-53  'Passenger Amenities', during the last three years and current year are as under:-

( ` in crores)

|                      | 2018-19      | 2018-19       | 2019-20      | 2019-20       | 2020-21      | 2020-21       | 2021-22      | 2021-22                        |
|----------------------|--------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|--------------|--------------------------------|
| Zonal Railway        | Allo- cation | Expend -iture | Allo- cation | Expend- iture | Allo- cation | Expend- iture | Allo- cation | Expend- iture (Till Feb, 2022) |
| North- east Frontier | 95.54        | 78.06         | 107.24       | 100.27        | 106.12       | 104.07        | 165.60       | 79.70                          |

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