Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Gatiman Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.50 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2022

## GATIMAN EXPRESS

## †50. SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to make train journey cheaper in AC Coaches;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  has  any  proposal  to  run  Gatiman Express train between Indore-Delhi and Indore-Mumbai in the near future;
- (e) if so, the time by when it is likely to be started;
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the scheme made by the Government to make the rail journey safe and comfortable?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  50  BY  SHRI  SHANKAR  LALWANI  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 02.02.2022 REGARDING GATIMAN EXPRESS

- (a)
- Yes, Sir.
- (b) To make the train journey affordable by Air- conditioned (AC) class, Government has introduced AC-3 tier Economy coaches. The base fare  for  3AC  Economy  coaches  has  been  fixed  lower  than  the existing fare of Mail/Express AC 3 tier coaches.
- (c) Does not arise.
- (d) to (f) At present, 01 pair of Gatimaan Express, namely, 12049/12050 Virangana  Lakshmibai    -  Hazrat  Nizamuddin  Gatimaan  Express  is operational  on  Indian  Railways.  Further,  at  present,  there  is  no immediate  proposal  to  introduce  Gatimaan  Express  on  Indore-Delhi and  Indore-Mumbai  sector.    However,  introduction  of  trains  is  an ongoing process over Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility and commercial justification.
- (g)      It  is  a  continual  endeavour  of  Indian  Railways  (IR)  to  make  rail journey  safer  and  more  comfortable  for  passengers.  Some  of  the steps in this regard are listed below:-
- i.
- State-of-the-art  Train-set  Vande  Bharat  services  have  been introduced between New Delhi - Varanasi and New Delhi- Shri Mata  Vaishno  Devi  Katra.  These  trains  have  ultra  modern features  like  quick  acceleration,  on  board  infotainment  and

Global Positioning System (GPS) based passenger information system,  automatic  sliding  doors,  retractable  footsteps,  Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets etc.

- ii. Various premium train services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Utkrisht Double Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana  and  coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti,  which  have  upgraded  interiors  /  exteriors  and improved passenger amenities, have been introduced in service in various train services over IR.
2. IR has also introduced State-of-the-art Vistadome coaches on Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) platform in various trains over IR. These coaches have several modern features and amenities providing panoramic view, through wider body side  windows as  well  as  through  transparent  sections  in  the  roof,  thus enabling  the  passengers  to  enjoy  the  scenic  beauty  of  the
- iii. places through which they travel.
- iv. IR has decided to proliferate LHB  coaches, which are technologically  superior  and  have  better  riding,  aesthetics and safety features than conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF)  type  coaches. Production Units of IR have stopped the manufacturing  of  ICF  type  coaches  and  are  manufacturing only LHB coaches from the year 2018-19 onwards.
- v. IR  has  also  upgraded  rakes  of  various  Mail  /  Express  trains running with  ICF  coaches  under  Project  Utkrisht.  Under Project  Swarn,  rakes  of  Rajdhani  and  Shatabdi  trains  have been  upgraded  across  multiple  dimensions,  which  include coach interiors, toilets, onboard cleanliness, staff behaviour, linen, etc.
- vi. Smart coaches with ultra modern features like Smart Public address  and  passenger  information  system,  Smart  HVAC (Heating,  Ventilation  and  Air  Conditioning  system),  Smart security and surveillance system etc. have also been manufactured.
- vii. A new variant of LHB AC three-tier coach- AC Economy coach, has also been introduced in service with enhanced amenities and increased passenger carrying capacity.

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