Lok Sabha Question No. 499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Frequency of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 499 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

499.   DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) the  total  number  of  passengers  who  travelled  daily  in  all  the  trains including  general,  sleeper  and  AC  in  the  country  during  each  of  the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of the norms/criteria for determining the frequency of trains and introduction of new trains;
- (c) the number of trains cancelled and delayed during the last three years and the current year along with the reasons therefor;
- (d) the  quantum of  loss  suffered  by  Railways  due  to  damage  to  railway property  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the  steps  taken  to overcome this problem;
- (e) whether  lesser  number  of  new  trains  have  been  introduced  and frequency increased in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof  and the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether the arrangements are made by Railways for the convenience of passengers in the event of cancellation/postponement and if so, the details thereof?

## 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. 499    BY  DR.  DNV  SENTHILKUMAR.  S., DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE AND SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA  TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.07.2022 REGARDING FREQUENCY OF TRAINS.

- (a)  : The total number of passengers travelled daily in all trains during the last three years are as under:
- (b)  :  Introduction  of  trains  and  increase  in  frequency   on  Indian Railways  is  an  ongoing  process  subject  to  operational  feasibility, resource availability and commercial justification , competing demand, etc.
- (c)  :  Number  of  Mail/Express  train  services  cancelled  and  delayed (Average per day) is indicated as under:

| Year    |   Passengers Travelled Per day (In Million) |
|---------|---------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                       22.15 |
| 2020-21 |                                        3.42 |
| 2021-22 |                                        9.45 |

| Financial year      |   Trains |   Train delayed |
|---------------------|----------|-----------------|
| 2019-20             |       98 |             389 |
| 2020-21             |       15 |              24 |
| 2021-22             |       96 |             126 |
| 2022-23( upto June) |       59 |             273 |

Reasons that delayed/ cancelled train services during the said period were natural calamities (Landside/Track washout/Cyclones), Covid-19 and poor occupancy, non-interlocking work/blocks for infrastructural, maintenance and safety works, agitations, accidents, foggy weather, operational constraints and asset failures.

- (d)  :  During  the  last  three  years  i.e  2019,  2020  &  2021,  the  losses incurred  to  Indian  Railways  due  to  damage  of  railway  property  in agitations are ` 151 Cr., ` 904 Cr. and ` 62 Cr. respectively.

Following measures are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP/District Police to check the damage of railway property during agitations:-

1. Deployment of Police/GRP & RPF personnel at vulnerable places with riot gears and Arms & Ammunition.
2. Smooth coordination with GRP & State Police is ensured to plan joint action in such cases.
3. Collection and sharing of Intelligence inputs with all intelligence agencies.
4. Cyber patrolling and collection of technical intelligence through modern technological tools being done to collect inputs on these types of activities.
5. Installation of CCTV cameras at vulnerable places to get an alert about the situation and the feed is monitored for the purpose of investigation/enquiry.
6. Special training is imparted to RPF personnel to deal with riots/ unlawful assemblies by imparting mob control drills to respond to such eventualities effectively.
7. Regular  co-ordination  meetings  are  conducted  with  GRP/Civil Police to discuss the preparedness in case of such situation for collecting and sharing of criminal intelligence.

(e) :  To contain the spread of COVID - 19 pandemic, Indian Railways had  discontinued  all  regular  passenger  carrying  trains  w.e.f.  23rd March,  2020.  Further,  Indian  Railways  do  not  run  train  services  on State-wise basis as Railway network straddles across State boundaries.   However,  10  pairs  of  trains  have  been  introduced  and frequency of one pair of train service  has been  increased in Southern Railway, which primarily serves various stations located in the State of  Tamil  Nadu,  during  the  financial  year  2019-20  to  2022-23  (till 30.06.2022) on originating/terminating basis. (f) :  In case of cancellation, late running of trains etc. cancellation of tickets  and  refund  of  fare  is  made  as  per  Railway  Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) Rules 2015. Also, passengers are intimated through SMS on the mobile number shared by them at the time of ticket booking. Provision of additional counters for facilitating smooth cancellation / re-booking of tickets is also done as per requirement.

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