opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3214 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Regulation of BVLOS and eVTOL
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3214

(To be answered on the 21 st  December 2023)

## REGULATION OF BVLOS AND eVTOL

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make regulation for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) in drone operations; and

- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

## 3214. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN

be pleased to state:-

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a) and (b) Currently, there is no such proposal under consideration with the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Restriction of Flying Rights
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3205

(To be answered on the 21 st  December 2023)

## RESTRICTION OF FLYING RIGHTS

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(a) whether the Union Government has proposed to restrict flying rights and to expand foreign airlines in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the reasons and motive thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

3205. SHRI M. SELVARAJ

be pleased to state:-

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) and (b) Operations of foreign airlines are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective country (which has designated the airline). Any foreign airline can operate to/from a point (airport) in India if it is designated as a point of call in the ASA. At present, the Government of India follows a policy of promoting more international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own domestic operations. Accordingly, the policy is to not grant any non-metro airport as a new point of call in the ASAs to any foreign carrier.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Regional Rapid Transit System
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Satya Pal Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3195 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 21, 2023 REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM

No. 3195:  SHRI  RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Dr. SATYAPAL SINGH:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved the completion of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project from  Delhi to Panipat;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a strong demand for direct connectivity of Metro  Rail  and  further  expansion  of  Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS); and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) & (b): No, sir. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) with approval and financial  commitment  of  Government  of  Haryana  for  DelhiPanipat  Regional  Rapid  Transit  System  (RRTS)  corridor  has been  received.  However,  Government  of  National  Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has not provided for the approval on the DPR of Delhi-Panipat RRTS corridors.

- (c) & (d): Yes, sir. This Ministry had received a reference to extend the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut  RRTS  corridor  till  Muzaffarnagar  in Uttar Pradesh. The respective State Government(s) are responsible for initiating, developing and funding urban transport infrastructure including RRTS projects and Central Government  considers  financial  assistance  to urban  rail based system based on feasibility of the proposal, necessity and  availability  of  resources,  as  and  when  posed  by  the concerned  State  Government(s),  in  accordance  with  the provisions  of  the  Metro  Rail  Policy,  2017.  Accordingly,  this Ministry had asked Government of Uttar Pradesh to conduct detailed traffic survey alongwith alternative analysis on Meerut-Muzaffarnagar corridor and based on the outcome of such detailed traffic study report, a DPR be prepared for most appropriate transport systems. At present, no DPR has been received  in  the  Ministry  for  extension  of  Delhi-GhaziabadMeerut RRTS corridor.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Expansion of Metro System Length
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Satyadev Pachauri, Satya Pal Singh, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Khagen Murmu, Sanjay Jaiswal, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3192

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 21, 2023

EXPANSION OF METRO SYSTEM LENGTH

NO. 3192.  SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

DR. SATYAPAL SINGH:

SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  noteworthy  expansion  of  the  metro  system  length  and technological advancements in the country during the last five years and the current year; and
- (b) the manner in which these changes played a role in improving urban transportation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

(a) and (b) Since 2018-19, the operational Metro Rail network in the country has expanded by about 457 kilometers.

A  number  of  technological  advancements  have  taken  place during the last five years in various Metro Rail networks in the

country. Some of the noteworthy technological advancements are:

- (i) Introduction  of  Namo  Bharat  Train-  India's  first  State  of  Art Namo  Bharat  train  with  design  speed  of  180  kmph  and operational  speed  of  160  kmph    has  been  introduced  on priority  section  between  Sahibabad  to  Duhai  Depot  on  DelhiMeerut RRTS corridor;
- (ii) European Train Control System (ETCS) - World's first State of Art ETCS  level  II with Hybrid level-III radio based  train signalling  system  on  LTE  backbone  has  been  introduced  on Namo  Bharat  trains  running  on  priority  corridor  of  DelhiMeerut RRTS enhancing passenger safety to a new level.
- Platform  Screen  Door  (PSD)  -    For  improved  safety  and  to reduce the risk of accidents, PSD has been jointly developed by  Bharat  Electronics  Limited  (BEL)  with  National  Capital
- (iii) Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC);
- (iv) National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) - One Nation-One card i.e. NCMC work on all NCMC enabled transport systems in the country;
- (v) QR based Ticketing -QR based ticketing system has facilitated booking of tickets from Mobile based apps;
- (vi) Unmanned  Train  Operations  (UTO)  -  For  improved  efficiency and quality of service including better utilisation of resources, UTO  is  functional  in  certain  stretches  of  Delhi  Metro  Rail Corporation;
- (vii) Indigenous Automatic Train Supervision  system (i-ATS) -India's  first  indigenously  built  Automatic  Train  Supervision System developed by the combined efforts of DMRC and

Bharat  Electronics  Limited  (BEL)  has  been  implemented  on Red Line of Delhi Metro.

These technological advancements have improved urban transportation drastically  which  is  evident  from  the  ridership  which has crossed about 1 crore per day at present.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Additional Charges for Seat Allocation
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3186

(To be answered on the 21 st  December 2023)

## ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR SEAT ALLOCATION

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

3186.

SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware that some Airlines are charging extra amount for allocation of seats during online check-in for preferential seats in aircrafts and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is legal to charge extra amount during online check-in after purchase of ticket and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is possible to get a boarding pass online without paying extra amount for seat allocation in private airlines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  the  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  stop  this unauthorized  collection  of  money  from  passengers;
- (f) whether the online travel aggregators have cleared all dues for tickets that were cancelled during Covid-19 pandemic in the country;
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (h) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to clear all dues of the affected commuters in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) to (e): In view of the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides the consumer an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail , the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR)  has been issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the unbundling of services and fees by scheduled airlines. Some of the services, which includes preferential seating also,  have thus   been unbundled and  they are charged separately on opt-in basis .

In case the passenger doesn't wish to opt for a preferred seat, the seat will be assigned free of cost through auto assigned seat mode by the airline. The boarding pass with the auto-assigned seat will be sent via email to the passenger, few hours prior to the flight departure. (f) to (h): DGCA has  issued direction to all airlines operating from  the country to refund on cancellation of air tickets during Covid-19 lockdown. The direction covers the booking of tickets through travel agents also. All airlines have confirmed that refunds against cancellation of air tickets due

to Covid-19 pandemic have been issued to the passengers or the travel agents.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Quality Testing of Auto Fuels
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3184 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2023

## Quality Testing of Auto Fuels

## 3184.  SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

पेोिलयमऔराकृितकगैसमंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has entrusted Fuel Testing Laboratory, Noida registered in the name of Society For Petroleum Laboratory (SFPL) for quality checking of auto fuels in order to minimize the vehicular pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has outsourced the operation and management of SFPL to Indian Institute of Petroleum and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the number of samples received from various petroleum companies and other stakeholders during the last five years and the current year;
- (d)  whether the Government has tried to evaluate the performance of SFPL;
- (e)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f)   the other major achievements of SFPL during the said period?

## ANSWER

पेोिलयमऔराकृितकगैसमंालयमरायमंी

( ीरामे वरतेली )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (c)    An independent Fuel Testing Laboratory (FTL) was registered under the Societies Registration Act in the name of  Society For Petroleum Laboratory (SFPL) which was commissioned in the year  2000  for  checking  the  quality  of  auto  liquid  fuels  in  National  Capital  Territory  (NCT)/ National Capital Region (NCR) on the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court. The operation and management of SFPL was outsourced to Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, which is a reputed CSIR Petroleum Laboratory. As  part  of  exercise  to  rationalise  autonomous  bodies  working  under  various  Ministries, operation of SFPLhas sinceceased w.e.f. 24.06.2022.

During  2018-19  to  2022-23  (up  to  24.6.2022)  the  FTL  received  2,978  samples  from  Oil Marketing Companies and other stake holders.

- (d) to (f) Government  evaluated  the  performance  of  SFPL  through  various  mechanisms  such  as  CAG Audit,  independent  audit  of  annual  accounts  through  a  registered  CA  and  holding  review meetings  from  time  to  time.  In  line  with  the  mandate,  auto  fuels  samples  were  evaluated  at SFPL as per the protocol in compliance with BIS norms.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Access to Sanitation Facilities
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3182

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 21, 2023

## ACCESS TO SANITATION FACILITIES

## NO. 3182.  SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will the Minister for HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  taken any steps for ensuring complete access to sanitation facilities to every poor household of the country;
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- If so, the details thereof;
- Whether any timeline has been fixed for achieving the target; and
- If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) to  (d)  :  To  ensure  that  every  citizen  including  poor  household  of Urban India has access to sanitation facilities, Government of India launched  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  -  Urban  (SBM  -  U)  on  2nd October, 2014 with one of the objectives to make the urban areas Open  Defecation  Free  (ODF).  This  has  been  achieved  with  the construction  of  63.07  lakh  Individual  Household  Latrine  (IHHL) units which is 113.75% of the target and 6.37 lakhs community and public toilets, which is almost 128% of the target.

In addition SBM-U 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021 with the objective  of  achieving  Garbage  Free  Status  for  all  cities  through 100%  source  segregation,  door  to  door  collection  and  scientific management of all fractions of waste. The Mission period is 202126.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: High Power Test Facility
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3181

## ANSWERED ON 21.12.2023

## HIGH POWER TEST FACILITY

## 3181. SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  given  any  assistance  for  modernization  of existing Synthetic Test Facility at High Power Laboratory, Bengaluru during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which the said Test Facility is likely to be completed at High Power Laboratory, Bengaluru?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) & (b) : Yes, Sir.  A project component titled 'Modernization of the existing synthetic test facility at High Power Laboratory, Bengaluru, was sanctioned by Ministry  of  Power  on  21 st   January,  2022  to  Central  Power  Research  Institute (CPRI).  The outlay of the project component is Rs. 40.00 Crore.
- (c) : As  per  the  sanction  order,  the  project  completion  duration  is  36 months from the date of release of 1 st  Installment.  However, the project could not be started by CPRI due to:
- (i) No reputed vendors were ready to manufacture the equipment required for the project;
- (ii) No  response  from  the  Original  Equipment  Manufacturer  (OEM)  and other prospective reputed global vendors; and
- (iii) The Expression of Interest (EOI) was tendered and in spite of several extensions no response was received.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: B.P. Mandal Bridge on Koshi River
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Mehboob Ali Kaiser

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the condition of B.P. Mandal Bridge built on Koshi River at NH107 is pathetic and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government intends to build another bridge parallel to this bridge and repair the B.P. Mandal bridge on NH-107 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Damage to the wearing coat of the bridge had occurred recently, which has been repaired.
- (b) There  is  no  proposal  to  construct  a  new  parallel  bridge  on  NH-107. However,  Ministry  keeps  on  receiving  proposals  for  upgradation  of various roads/bridges. Decisions are taken based on the fulfilment of the criteria, requirement of connectivity, inter-se priority and availability of funds.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3179 ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2023

## B.P. MANDAL BRIDGE ON KOSHI RIVER

3179. CH. MEHBOOB ALI KAISER:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
Lok Sabha Question No. 3174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: VAT on Air Turbine Fuel
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Gopal Jee Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3174

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  21st December 2023 )

## VAT ON AIR TURBINE FUEL

3174.    SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  percentage  of  VAT  levied  by  Bihar  Government  on  Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) at Darbhanga Airport
- (b) whether there is any mechanism to check unprecedented hike in
- air fares during the festivals at Darbhanga Airport; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

CIVIL  AVIATION

- (a) VAT rate levied by Bihar Government on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) is 1 percent for RCS airport, 4 percent for Gaya airport and 29 percent for rest.
- (b)  &  (c)  During  the  second  round  of  bidding  under  the  UDAN scheme,  Darbhanga  airport,  owned  by  IAF  was  identified  for  the development and to operate RCS flights. Spicejet (Selected Airline Operator) commenced RCS flights on the routes connecting Darbhanga with Bangalore, Delhi & Mumbai on 8th November, 2020.

The Government had capped the Airfare for the 40 RCS seats under Regional  Connectivity  Scheme  -  Ude  Desh  ka  Aam  Nagrik  (RCSUDAN) for three years, balance of Non-RCS seats airline may charge as per their business plan. Now, RCS tenure of 3 years of Spicejet has  been  completed  on  07.11.2023  and  there  is  no  mechanism  to cap the Airfare.  Presently  airlines  operate  Non-RCS  flights  to/from Darbhanga airport. As per the prevailing regulation, airfares are neither established nor regulated by the Government. The airfare established by the airline are dynamic in nature and follow the principle of demand & supply. The fares are also dependent on a number of other factors such as the  number  of  seats  already  sold  on  a  particular  flight,  prevailing fuel  price,  the  capacity  of  the  aircraft  operating  on  the  route, competition on the sector, season, holidays, festivals, long weekends, events (sports, fairs, contests) etc.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Street Lighting National Programme
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Vijay Kumar Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3171

## ANSWERED ON 21.12.2023

## STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME

3171. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  replace  conventional  street  lights with  LED  lights  in  Uttar  Pradesh  under  Street  Lighting  National  Programme (SLNP);
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the quantum of funds allocated under SLNP to Uttar Pradesh during the last three years and the current year?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) : Under the Street Lighting National Programme, the Energy Efficiency  Services  Limited  is  implementing  projects  to  replace  conventional street lights with energy efficient LED street lights in all the States including Uttar Pradesh. So far, Energy Efficiency Services Limited has replaced/installed 12,90,949 nos. of Energy Efficient Street Lights in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

- (c) : The Street Lighting National Programme is a self-financing programme, where an agreement is signed between the client Urban Local Body and  Energy  Efficiency  Services  Limited.  No  budgetary  support  is  provided  by Government of India for SLNP.

*************
Lok Sabha Question No. 3170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Guidelines for Low Floor Buses
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3170 ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2023

GUIDELINES FOR LOW FLOOR BUSES

3170. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether guidelines or instructions have been issued to the States for floating tender only for low floor buses;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the  Government  maintains  any  information/data  on  the number of bus stands that are accessible; and
- (d) if so, the details of such stands and the nature of the accommodation/amenities provided on these stands, State-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) and (b) No Sir. However, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has formulated  'Accessibility  Guidelines  for  Bus  Terminals  and  Bus Stops ' in August, 2022. These Guidelines cover the planning and design aspects of areas in bus ports/bus terminals and bus stops, so that such areas can be made accessible to all. The said Guidelines inter alia state that accessible buses should be low floor. (c) and (d) Transportation by Road is a State subject and State Road Transport  Undertakings  are  under  the  administrative  control  of  the respective State/ UT Governments.

*****