Lok Sabha Question No. 2840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Enhance  Freight Capacity
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Chandra Prakash Joshi, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Umesh G. Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2840 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## ENHANCE FREIGHT CAPACITY

## 2840.   SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. SUJAY   RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  being  taken  to  modernize  and  upgrade  the  Indian Railways' infrastructure, rolling stock and signalling systems;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Indian  Railways  is  utilizing  Dedicated Freight  Corridors  (DFCs)  to  enhance  freight  capacity  and  improve overall network efficiency;
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  Gati  Shakti  Freight  Terminals  contribute  to increasing the modal share of Railways in the freight segment; and (d) the key statistics regarding freight loading and revenue during the last three years?

## 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. 2840 BY SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL, DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR  GAVIT, DR. SUJAY   RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE    PATIL,  DR.  KRISHNA  PAL  SINGH  YADAV,  SHRI  CHANDRA PRAKASH   JOSHI,  PROF.  RITA    BAHUGUNA    JOSHI,  DR.  SHRIKANT EKNATH  SHINDE  AND DR. UMESH  G. JADHAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.12.2023 REGARDING ENHANCE FREIGHT CAPACITY

(a):   Modernisation and upgradation of railway infrastructure is a need based and ongoing process subject to operational requirement, technical feasibility, commercial viability, resource availability, etc. A number  of  works  have  been  taken  up  to  modernize  and  upgrade railway  infrastructure  including  rolling  stock  and  signaling  system. Some of them are as under:

1. Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh  (RRSK)  has  been  introduced  in 2017-18  for  replacement/renewal/upgradation  of  critical  safety assets, with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore for five years. From 2017-18 till 2021-22 a gross expenditure of ₹ 1.08 lakh crore was incurred on RRSK works.
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,498 stations  upto  31.10.2023  to  eliminate  accident  due  to  human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11,137 level Crossing Gates up to 31.10.2023 for enhancing safety at LC gates.
4. Block Proving Axle Counters (BPACs) for automatic clearance of Block  Section,  are  provided  to  ensure  complete  arrival  of  train

without manual intervention before granting line clear to receive next  train  and  to  reduce  human  element.  These  systems  have

- been provided on 6450 Block Sections up to 31.10.2023.
5. Automatic  block  Signalling  (ABS)  has  been  provided  at  4,111 Route Kms upto 31.10.2023.
6. Indian  Railway  has  also  gone  for  implementation  of  advance technology  system  'Kavach'  as  an  Automatic  Train  Protection (ATP) system. Kavach is indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection  (ATP)  system  which  required  safety  certification  of highest  order.  Kavach  has  also  been  adopted  as  a  National  ATP system in July 2020.
7. Real time Train information system (RTIS) have been provided for automatic acquisition of train movement timings.
8. Crew  Video  and  Voice  Recording  System  (CVVRS)  has  been provided in Locomotives for post event analysis.
9. Head  on  Generation  (HOG)  scheme  has  been  implemented  in passenger locomotives for feeding electric supply to LHB coaches for  train  lighting  and  air  conditioning  thereby  reducing  carbon emission, noise level and consumption of fossil fuels.
10. For manufacturing new technology based 9000 High Horse Power Electric Freight Locomotives, a manufacturing unit, having modern World class manufacturing facilities, sanctioned at Dahod.
11. A factory has been set up at Madhepura under joint venture for manufacturing  800  Nos.  of  12000  High  Horse  Power  Electric Freight  Locomotives.  This  unit  has  state  of  the  art  World  class
- manufacturing  facilities  to  manufacture  these  high  horse  power high  speed  locomotives.  Till  November  2023,  376  locomotives have been supplied which are in operation.
12. With a view to increase throughput, RDSO has issued technical specification for modern wagons (Modern Open Wagon & Modern Brake Van). In the recent past, multi-purpose and higher carrying capacity wagons have been designed by RDSO. These wagons will help in better utilization of rolling assets and increased throughput per rake.
13. To capture traffic of automobile movement, Indian Railways have introduced New Modified Goods (NMG) coaches which have been converted from ICF type Non-AC coaches at the end of their codal life for passenger service.
14. Introduction  of  IGBT  based  3-phase  propulsion  system  with regenerative  braking  in  Electrical  Multiple  Unit  (EMU)  trains, Mainline  Electrical  Multiple  Unit  (MEMU)  trains,  Kolkata  Metro rakes and Electric Train Sets.
15. Provision  of  energy  efficient  LED  lights  in  coaches  for  better illumination.
16. Provision of 750V external power supply at washing/sick lines for maintenance  and  testing  of  LHB  coaches  resulting  in  significant saving of diesel..
17. Laying of track structure consisting of 60 kg/90 Ultimate Tensile Strength  (UTS)  rails  on  Pre-stressed  Reinforced  concrete  (PSC) sleepers with 1660 sleepers per km at the time of renewals, laying

of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e.  Flash  Butt Welding, use of thick web switches and weldable Cast Manganese Steel  (CMS)  crossings,  using  improved  fittings,  maintenance  of track with the help of track machines, Ultrasonic testing of rails to detect flaws, etc.

- (b):          Dedicated  Freight  Corridors  offer  higher  transport  output  and carrying  capacity  due  to  faster  transit  of  freight  trains,  running  of double  stack  container  trains and  heavy  haul  trains leading to reduction in overall Logistics cost. This improves the supply chain for the industries/logistics players located in the catchment areas leading to growth of Export-Import traffic as well.

(c):   Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) are playing a pivotal role in increasing the modal share of Railways in the freight segment through following ways -

-  Construction of new  GCTs  significantly increases the overall  cargo  handling  capacity  of  Indian  Railways  as  it enables  the  railways  to  handle  large  volumes  of  freight, leading to increased market share.
-  GCTs  terminals  are  strategically  taken  up  nationwide, connecting major production and consumption centres and these are developed in proximity to ports and highways to enable seamless integration with sea and road traffic.
-  GCTs are equipped with modern infrastructure like automated  handling  system,  dedicated  rail  sidings  etc.,

which  leads  to  faster  loading  and  unloading  of  cargo reducing turnaround time and optimizing resource utilization.

## (d): The key statistics  regarding  freight  loading  and  revenue  during the last three years, are as under:-

| Year      | Freight Loading (In million Tonnes)   | Revenue Earning From Goods ( ₹ in Crore)   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2020-2021 | 1,230.94                              | 1,15,738.38                                |
| 2021-2022 | 1,415.87                              | 1,39,287.30                                |
| 2022-2023 | 1,509.10                              | 1,60,158.48                                |

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