Lok Sabha Question No. 4497 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Extension of Rail Services in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4497 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2022

EXTENSION OF RAIL SERVICES IN CHHATTISGARH AND MAHARASHTRA

†4497.SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR: SHRI ARUN SAO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government plans to extend rail services and introduce new trains in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra during the next financial year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the total budget allocated and utilized, yearwise during the last three years and the current year for the railway  divisions  of  Chhattisgarh  including  Bilaspur  railway zone  and  for  the  railway  divisions  of  Maharashtra  including Solapur and Pune railway zones; and
- (d)  the  additional  measures  taken  for  extension  of  railway amenities  in  the  said  highest  revenue  generating  railway zones?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4497  BY  SHRI  RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO  NAIK  NIMBALKAR  AND  SHRI  ARUN  SAO  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 30.03.2022 REGARDING EXTENSION OF RAILWAY SERVICES IN CHHATTISGARH AND MAHARASHTRA

- (a)  &  (b)  Indian  Railways  do  not  run  train  services  on  Statewise basis as Railway network straddles across State boundaries.  However,  introduction  of  train  services  is  an ongoing process on Indian Railways, subject to traffic justification,  operational  feasibility,  availability  of  resources, etc.
- (c)  The  Railway  Projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway-wise and  not  State-wise  as  the  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries. Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in Budget allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects across Indian Railways. However, in these two states Budget allocations are as under:
1.  Maharashtra: Average Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/ partly in Maharashtra including Solapur and Pune, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 4,801 crore per year from ` 1,171 crore per year (during 2009-14) which is 310% more than average allocation during  2009-14  ( ` 1171  crore/year).  These  allocations  have been  increased  to ` 7,281  crore  in  Financial  Year  2019-20 (522%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  of 2009-14)  and ` 6,700  crore  in  Financial  Year  2020-21  (472% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14). For  Financial  Year  2021-22,  highest  ever  budget  outlay  of ` 8,547  crore  (Original  BE ` 7,277  crore  and  additional  outlay ` 1,270  crore)  has  been  provided  for  these  projects,  which  is

630% more than the Average Annual Budget Outlay of 2009-14 ( ` 1171 crore per year).

2. Chhattisgarh: Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works,  falling  fully/  partly  in State  of  Chhattisgarh  including  Bilaspur,  during  2014-19  has been  enhanced  to ` 2,274  crore  per  year  from ` 311  crore  per year  during  2009-14,  which  is  631%  more  than  the  Average Annual  Budget  allocation  during  2009-14.   These  allocations have been increased to ` 3,269 crore in Financial Year 2019-20 (951%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  of 2009-14)  and ` 3,874  crore  in  Financial  Year  2020-21  (1146% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14). For  Financial  Year  2021-22,  a  budget  outlay  of ` 3,730  crore {Original Budget Outlay BE ` 3690 crore and additional allotment ` 40  Crore}  has  been  provided  for  these  projects, which is 1,099% more than the Average Annual Budget outlay of 2009-14 ( ` 311 crore per year).

(d)  For  provision  of  passenger  amenities,  railway  stations  are categorized based  on  the  annual  passenger  earnings  (reserved and unreserved) and number of outward passengers handled at the  station.  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,  augmentation/upgradation  of  Railway  station  is a continuous  and  on-going  process  and  works  in  this  regard  are undertaken  depending  upon  need,  volume  of  the  passenger traffic and inter-se priority subject to availability of funds.

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