Lok Sabha Question No. 64 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Operation of Vande Bharat Express Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Adoor Prakash, K. Muraleedharan, Shashi Tharoor, Sanjay Bhatia, Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 64 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## OPERATION OF VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS TRAINS

64.   SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

SHRI SANJAY BHATIA:

SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is on track to meet the target of deploying 75 Vande Bharat trains by August, 2023 and if so, the current status of the same;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  operate  such  Vande  Bharat Express  Trains  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  especially  on  the  popular  routes  of Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam-Tirupati, Telangana, Thiruvananthapuram  to  Mangalore,  Karnal  to  Mathura  and  New  Delhi  to Patna, if so, the complete details thereof, route/State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to undertake speed enhancement projects  for  smooth  operation  of  these  trains  in  Kerala  given  the  higher number of curved tracks and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Railways  to  prevent frequent incidents of cattle run-overs by Vande Bharat trains?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) Thirty Five (35) number of Vande Bharat rakes have been approved in the Coach Production Programme for the year 2022-23 and Sixty Seven (67) number of Vande Bharat rakes have been approved for the year 2023-24.
- ICF has turned out Five (5) rakes of the Vande Bharat trains till November 2022 and further production of Vande Bharat rakes is being stepped up as per traffic requirement. However the actual production depends on supply chain which is developing rapidly. (b) Train services on Indian Railway network, are not operated on Statewise basis as railway network straddles across state boundaries. However, introduction of train services including Vande Bharat Express is an ongoing process subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification, availability of rolling stock, competing demands, etc. (c) Based  on  the  speed  potential  of  curves,  sectional  speed  has  been raised  from  100  kmph  to  110  kmph  on  both  Up  and  Down  line  between Podanur to Shoranur and Shoranur to Netravati sections in Kerala state. Further,  Final  Location  Survey  has  been  sanctioned  to  examine  the feasibility for increasing the sectional speed to 130/160 kmph in Thiruvanthapuram - Mangaluru section. (d) A number of preventive measures have been taken by Zonal Railways to reduce cattle run-over cases on Railway track, which include the following: (i)Cleaning of garbage and removal of wild vegetation along the track. (ii)Sensitization  of  Train  Crew  on  a  regular  basis  for  frequent  whistling  at locations prone for cattle/animal run over. (iii)Construction of fencing/boundary wall at identified locations of trespass by cattle/animal and approaches of major towns. (iv)Counseling  of  villagers  for  taking  necessary  steps  to  avoid  cattle coming near track through safety seminar/propagandas in villages. (v)Avoid dumping of food waste along railway track to avoid unnecessary

congregation of animals near railway track.

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