Lok Sabha Question No. 1565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Reconstituted Railway Board
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1565 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## RECONSTITUTED RAILWAY BOARD

†1565.  SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme has been formulated to provide better services to the people under the newly reconstituted Railway Board;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether people are not getting general tickets of Indian Railways;
- (d)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  fixed  any  time  frame  by  when people can get general ticket; and
- (a) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY TO PARTS  (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1565  BY  SHRI  ANIL  FIROJIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING RECONSTITUTED RAILWAY BOARD

(a) & (b): Railway Board has recently been reorganised on functional lines to  put  Railways  firmly  on  the  path  of  modernisation  with  a  vision  to transform  Indian  Railways  into  a  world-class  railway  system.  As  far  as provision of services is concerned, Indian Railways constantly strives to provide  better  services  to  its  vast  set  of  customers  through  proper planning and system improvements on a continuous and an ongoing basis depending upon customer feedback, operational feasibility and financial viability.  Various  initiatives  are  taken  from  time  to  time  by  different departments of Railways to improve customer convenience.  In order to cater to the diverse needs of passengers, there has been a continuous expansion  of  various  on-board  and  off-board  services  ensuring  greater choice and variety to the customers.

During  the  COVID-19  period,  Indian  Railways  played  a  major  role  in transportation of stranded passengers to different parts of the country by running Shramik Special trains. Thereafter, normal trains were introduced in  a  phased  manner  to  transport  passengers  duly  following  COVID protocol.  Based  on  the  demand  pattern,  clone  trains  have  also  been introduced to meet the unmet demand.

Simultaneously,  various  system  improvements  for  freight  services  like computerization of Parcel service through Parcel Management System, Electronic Registration of demand (e-RD), paperless Electronic Transmission of Railway  Receipt  (eT-RR)  and  digital  payments  through  Debit/Credit  card  using POS machine along with other online facilities have been implemented to ensure supply of essential items during the COVID-19 lockdown. Parcel special trains, including time-tabled  trains,  were  introduced  connecting  all  parts  of  the country. The operations of freight trains were also maintained unhindered during the lockdown to maintain essential supplies to the public all over the country.

With  a  view  to  make  Railway  journey  memorable,  'Vistadome  coaches', equipped with roof top glasses and seats, which can rotate upto, 180 degrees, have been introduced.

Moreover, changes/system improvement for provision of better services in the Railways is a continuous and ongoing process.

(c) to (e): No, Sir. Unreserved tickets are being issued through Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) and Jan Sadharan  Ticket  Booking  Sewaks  (JTBS)  on  suburban  sections  of  Central, Eastern, Southern, South Eastern and Western Railways. Booking through UTS on Mobile App has also been permitted for suburban section of these Railways.

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