opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Trains having Unreserved Compartments
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1547 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## TRAINS HAVING UNRESERVED COMPARTMENTS

## 1547 DR. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  trains  having  unreserved  compartments  and  number  of unreserved  compartments attached to a train on average;
- (b)  whether    the  Government  has  reduced  the  number  of  unreserved compartments attached  to  trains from the year 2014 onwards;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  further  discontinue  the  unreserved compartments; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to (e) Indian Railways (IR), operates various types of regular time-tabled trains  e.g.  suburban,  short  distance  passenger  trains,  long  distance  /Mail  / Express/  Superfast  trains  with  different  composition  catering  to  different segments  of passengers. The  extant policy regarding composition of Mail/Express trains, provide for 12 (Twelve) General  class & Sleeper class non-  AC  coaches  and  08  (eight)  AC-Coaches,  in  a  train  of  22  coaches,  to provide greater accommodation for the passengers  using General and nonAC  Sleeper  Coaches.   Of  the  total  number  of  Coaches  being  presently utilised for running of train services, two-third are non-AC, and one-third are

AC variants.

Further, IR have introduced Amrit Bharat services, which have modern Stateof  the  Art  technology  and  are  equipped  with advanced  features  like  SemiPermanent couplers for jerk free travel, horizontal sliding windows, foldable snack  table  and  bottle  holders,  mobile  holders etc.  These  services,  which are fully non-AC trains, presently comprising 12 Sleeper Class Coaches and 8 General Class coaches, are providing high quality services to the passengers. Keeping in view increased demand, IR has planned to manufacture  10,000  non-AC  Coaches  including  General  Class  and  Sleeper Class Coaches .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Train Facility from Nandurbar to Pune
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1539 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## TRAIN FACILITY FROM NANDURBAR TO PUNE

1539    ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  thousands  of students  travelling  for  Nandurbar,  Dhule  and  Jalgaon  in  Northern Maharashtra to Pune face a lot of difficulties due to unavailability of train services; and

(b) whether the Government is planning to provide a train facility from Nandurbar to Pune and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b)  At present, Jalgaon and Chalisgaon are connected to Pune by  10  pairs   and  05  pairs  of  trains  respectively.  Passengers  of Nandurbar desirous of travelling to Pune may changeover at Jalgaon while  passengers  of  Dhule  may  avail  the  services  for  Pune  from Chalisgaon. Besides, introduction of new train services is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1535 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: PM-KUSUM Scheme in Gujarat
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1535

ANSWERED ON 31/07/2024

## PM-KUSUM SCHEME IN GUJARAT

## 1535. SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme in Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the number of farmers in Gujarat especially those in Bhuj, Abdasa, Gandhidham, Rapar, Mandvi and Anjar districts who were provided assistance for installation of standalone solar powered and grid connected agricultural pumps; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) Yes.
- (b) & (c) PM-KUSUM Scheme is a demand driven scheme and allocations are made based on the demand received. Based on the demand raised by the State of Gujarat, the Ministry has sanctioned 12,382 pumps under Component B of the scheme, as on 30.06.2024.

As informed by State Implementing Agencies (SIAs) of State of Gujarat, the number of farmers who were provided Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for standalone solar powered pumps under Component-  B  of  the  PM-KUSUM  scheme  in  Anjar,  Rapar,  &  Bhuj  districts  is  6,  2  &  2 respectively. Efforts are being made by SIA to extend it to beneficiaries in other districts, including Abdasa, Gandhidham, and Mandvi as per demand from the districts.

For  grid-connected  agriculture  pumps,  no  demand  is  received  from  the  State  of  Gujarat  for Individual Pump Solarisation under Component-C.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Pirated Content on Digital Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1533 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## PIRATED CONTENT ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS

1533:  BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has initiated any action to take down the pirated content on digital platforms and has set up any mechanism to deal with the issue; and
- b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) & (b): The Cinematograph Act, 1952 has been amended in 2023 to include the provisions for  addressing  the  issues  of  unauthorized  recording  and  exhibition  of  films  to  curb  the menace  of  film  piracy  by  transmission  of  unauthorized  copies  on  the  internet.  The  newly inserted Section 6AA inter-alia prohibits unauthorized recording of films with the intention of transmission of infringing copies of films. Further, Section 6AB prohibits public exhibition of an infringing copy of any film for profit in a manner that amounts to the infringement of copyright under the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957 or any other law for the time being in  force.  Also,  Section  7(1B)(ii)  empowers  the  Government  under  section  79(3)  of  the Information  Technology  Act,  2000  for  taking  action  against  intermediaries  hosting  pirated content.

Under these provisions, an institutional mechanism has been established in the Ministry of Information  &  Broadcasting  and  the  Central  Board  of  Film  Certification  for  receiving complaints  from  the  original  copyright  holders  of  cinematograph  films  or  by  persons authorized by them and/or any other person, regarding exhibition of pirated/infringing copies of films on the internet, and issuing notification to the intermediaries for disabling access to such links.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Conversion of Sea Water to Portable Water
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

- (a) Yes.
- (b) Three desalination plants each with a fresh water production capacity of one lakh litre per day have been established at  Kavaratti, Minicoy, and Agatti islands of the Union Territory  of  Lakshadweep,  based  on  the  Low  Temperature  Thermal  Desalination (LTTD)  technology  indigenously developed by the National Institute of  Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Based on the success of these plants, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through Union Territory (UT)  Lakshadweep  has  entrusted  the  work  of  establishing  6  more  LTTD  plants  at Amini, Androth, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Kiltan with a capacity of 1.5 lakhs litres per day. Out  of these,  three plants  one  each  at  Kalpeni,  Amini  and  Kadmat  has  been established recently.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1532

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 31 ST  JULY, 2024

## CONVERSION OF SEA WATER TO POTABLE WATER

## 1532.   SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the country has any project on conversion of sea water to portable water, which is an emergency sector Earth Science; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
Lok Sabha Question No. 1529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Building of Halt Stations to replace Old Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ramashankar  Vidharthi Rajbhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1529 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## BUILDING OF HALT STATIONS TO REPLACE OLD RAILWAY STATIONS

†1529.  SHRI RAMASHANKAR RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  building  halt  stations  by  replacing  old  railway stations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to build halt station to replace Reoti railway station under Ballia-Chhapra Railway Main Line in Salempur Parliamentary Constituency  and  Bankata  railway  station  under  Gorakhpur-  Muzaffarpur  Railway Main Line; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d): While there is no overall plan to change railway stations into halt stations, Reoti  station  has  been  converted  as  Halt  Station  due  to  meagre traffic without downgrading passenger amenities and not reducing stoppage of trains. Further, upgradation  of amenities  is  a  continuous  process depending upon the level of traffic handled at this station, inter se priority of works subject to availability of funds.

Bankata  railway  station  is  a  crossing  station  and  there  is  no  proposal  to change this station into halt station.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Survey to Connect Vapi with Daman and Una Railway Stations with Diu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1528 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## SURVEY TO CONNECT VAPI WITH DAMAN AND UNA RAILWAY STATIONS WITH DIU

†1528 SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to connect Vapi (Gujarat) with Daman and Una railway stations (Gujarat) with Diu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating any plan to connect Daman  and  Diu  with  Gujarat  by  railway  during  this  financial year;
- (d) if so, the  time  by which  these  places  are  likely to be connected by railways; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1528 BY SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING SURVEY TO CONNECT VAPI WITH DAMAN AND UNA RAILWAY STATIONS WITH DIU (a) to (e): A survey for construction of Daman-Vapi-Nasik (210 km) new railway  line  was  completed.  The  project  has  low  traffic  projections. However, Vapi is an existing railway station only 11 km away from Daman. Further,  Diu  is  approximately  10  km  away  from  Delvada  railway station, which is connected to Una through existing rail network. Sanctioning of Railway projects is a continuous and dynamic process of Indian Railway. Railway Infrastructure Projects are taken up on the basis of  remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing  links  and  alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon liabilities of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Non-Fossil Fuel
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1522

ANSWERED ON 31/07/2024

## NON-FOSSIL FUEL

## 1522.  DR. AMAR SINGH

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is cognizant that Nuclear Energy would play a significant role in attaining the goals of having a cumulative installed capacity share of non-fossil fuel energy  sources  of  around  50  percent  by  2030  and  achieving  net-zero  emissions  by 2050; and
- (b) if so, the details of the initiatives proposed to be taken by the Government to expand the country's  nuclear  power  capacity  keeping  in  view  country's  energy  transition  for meeting the goal of a net zero economy by 2070?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  &  PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)  &  (b)  Nuclear  energy  has  huge  potential  to  provide  the  country's  long-term  energy security in a sustainable manner. It has a vital role in the energy transition to net zero, as a base load source of clean electricity, available 24X7. To contribute to the target  set  by  the  Government  in  achieving  net  zero  emissions,  a  nuclear  power expansion programme is being implemented to increase the installed nuclear power capacity to 22480 MW by 2031-32 from 8180 MW at present. The Government has also accorded 'In- principle' approval for five new sites for setting up nuclear power reactors in the future.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Pathankot to Joginder Nagar Rail Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1519 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## PATHANKOT TO JOGINDER NAGAR RAIL LINES

## 1519.  SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that an elevated track within the city portion of Pathankot  to  Joginder  Nagar  rail  lines  had  been  approved  by  the State Government of Punjab way back in 2019 with a  project value of  Rs.240  crore  under  a  50%  cost-sharing  agreement  between  the Ministry  of  Railways  and  Government of  Punjab  and  a  proposal  for the same had been sent to the Chief Engineer, Northern Railways on 30th May 2019 by the Superintendent Engineer, Construction Circle, PWD B&R, Pathankot and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  the  details  of  the  timeline  by  which  the  project  is  likely  to  be approved by the Government?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b): Sanctioning of works for elimination of  Level crossings (LCs) is a continuous and dynamic process of Indian Railway. Such works are taken up on the basis of its impact on safety in train operations, mobility of trains & impact for road users and feasibility etc.

Proposal for elevated track within city portion of  Pathankot received from State Govt., was examined and found to be not feasible. All  Unmanned  Level  Crossings  (UMLCs)  on  running  lines  of  Broad Gauge network of Indian Railway have been eliminated by 31.01.2019. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Under Construction/Pending ROB and Under Bridges in Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1518

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## UNDER CONSTRUCTION/PENDING ROB AND

## UNDER BRIDGES IN MAHARASHTRA

†1518. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of under construction/pending railway overbridges/underpasses and manned/unmanned railway crossings in Maharashtra;
- (b)   whether the work on these projects is being carried out as per the schedule;
- (c)    if not, the project-wise reasons for delay;
- (d)    the  number  of  operation/sanctioned  overbridges/underpasses  in Maharashtra and the current status thereof; and
- (e)    the time by which the said work is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): Sanctioning of works of Road over Bridge (ROB)/Road under Bridge  (RUB)  in  lieu  of  Level  crossings  (LCs)  is  a  continuous  and dynamic process of Indian Railway. Such works are taken up on the basis of its impact on safety in train operations, mobility of trains & impact for road users and feasibility etc.

All Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on running lines of Broad Gauge  (BG)  network  of  Indian  Railway  have  been  eliminated  by

31.01.2019.

As  on  01.07.2024,  the  state  of  Maharashtra  has  1459  Nos. existing ROBs/RUBs. Presently, 318 Nos. ROB/RUB at a total cost of ₹ 5772  crore  are  sanctioned  in  Maharashtra,  which  are  at  different stages of planning and execution. Completion  &  commissioning  of  ROB/RUB  works  depends  on various  factors  like  cooperation  of   State  Governments  in  giving consent for closure of LC,  fixing of approach alignment, approval of General  Arrangement  Drawing  (GAD),  land  acquisition,  removal  of encroachment,  shifting  of  infringing  utilities,  statutory  clearances from  various  authorities,   law  and  order  situation  in  the  area  of project  /  work  sites,   duration  of  working  season  in  a  year  for  the particular  project  /  area   due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.   All  these factors affect the completion time of the projects / works.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: National Knowledge Network
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Vivek Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1517

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 31.07.2024

## NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

## 1517.      SHRI VIVEK THAKUR:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the components of the National Knowledge Network; and
- (b) if so, details thereof along with the number of institutions benefiting from the Network

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) and (b):  National Knowledge Network ('NKN') carries the digital-traffic of National/State Data Centres (NDCs/SDCs), State-Wide Area Networks (SWANs) and provides connectivity to various  Digital  India  initiatives,  and  carry  digital-traffic  of  various  G2G  (Government  to Government) and G2C (Government to Citizen) services, District Connectivity, etc. NKN also inter-connect all knowledge institutions across the country through high-speed data communication network to encourage sharing of resources and collaborative research. A highspeed  data  communication  network  has  been  established  to  interconnect  Institution  of  higher learning, and research. Eventually, NKN fulfils the needs of the government network [National Government Network (NGN)], and the Research & Education Network (REN) both.As on June 2024 1,802 links to institutions have been commissioned and made operational under NKN.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Construction of New ROBs/RUBs in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1516

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROBs/RUBs IN WEST BENGAL

1516.  SMT. SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  zone-wise  list  of  proposed  new  ROB/RUB  for constructions in West Bengal;
- (b) whether the Government allocated any funds for the construction of  an  ROB  near  Bauria  Station  under  the  Kharagpur  Division  of South Eastern Railway and if so, the details of the allocated funds;
- (c) whether the construction of ROB/RUB near Fuleswar and Kulgachia Railway Stations under South Eastern Railway have been approved; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d): Sanctioning of works of Road over Bridge (ROB)/Road under Bridge  (RUB)  in  lieu  of  Level  crossings  (LCs)  is  a  continuous  and dynamic process of Indian Railway. Such works are taken up on the basis of its impact on safety in train operations, mobility of trains & impact for road users and feasibility etc.

During  2014-24,  a  total  of  443  Nos.    Road  Over Bridges (ROBs) Bengal.

/Road Under Bridge (RUBs) were constructed in West Presently, 243 Nos. ROBs / RUBs at cost of ₹ 5707 Crore are sanctioned in West Bengal including the work of construction of ROB in lieu of level crossing (LC) No. 18 near Bauria Station. The works of preparation of Technical feasibility report/Detailed project report (TFR/DPR) for the construction of ROB/RUB at LCs No. 25 (near Fuleswar) & 35(near Kulgachia) have been taken up.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Operation of Vande Bharat Train in Puducherry
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ve Vaithilingam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1514 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## OPERATION OF VANDE BHARAT TRAIN IN PUDUCHERRY

## 1514 SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  operate  Vande  Bharat  trains connecting  Puducherry  with  other  parts  like  Tirupati,  Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Bangaluru and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether any survey is being conducted to assess the possibility of running Vande Bharat in Puducherry and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b) At present, Puducherry is connected  to Tirupati, Coimbatore  and  Bengaluru  by  two  pairs  of  Mail/Express    each. Similarly, one pair Mail/Express is catering to the needs of Puducherry-Tirunelveli  sector.  As  on  24th  July,  2024,  102  Vande Bharat  train  services  are  operating  across  the  Indian  Railways, which includes, 12 Vande Bharat services serving Bengaluru and 4 Vande  Bharat  services  serving  Coimbatore  while  2  Vande  Bharat services serve  Tirunelveli  and  Tirupati  each.  Besides,  introduction of  train  services,  including  Vande  Bharat  services,  is  an  on-going process subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

*****