Lok Sabha Question No. 2899 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Delhi-Kathgodam/Delhi-Tanakpur Vande Bharat Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2899

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## DELHI-KATHGODAM/DELHI-TANAKPUR VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

†2899. SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  start  Delhi-Kathgodam and Delhi-Tanakpur Vande Bharat trains;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to provide a halt at Rampur station so that the people of neighbouring areas also get benefitted;
- (c) the manner in which the safety of railway tracks is being ensured in view of the high speed of Vande Bharat trains;
- (d)  whether  the  railway  tracks  on  which  Vande  Bharat  trains  run  are reportedly being obstructed by anti-social elements; and
- (e) if so, the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS 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. 2899 BY SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  20.12.2023  REGARDING  DELHI-KATHGODAM/DELHITANAKPUR VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

(a) and (b)  As on 12 th  December, 2023, 68 Vande Bharat train services are running across the Indian Railways, connecting states having Broad Gauge (B.G.) electrified network. At present, Delhi is connected to Kathgodam and Tanakpur by 03 and 01 pair of Express train services respectively.  Besides, introduction  of  new  train  services  and  provision  of  stoppage  of  existing train  services,  including  Vande  Bharat  services,  are  ongoing  processes over Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

(c) Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways. Railway is having  a  set  system  of  inspection,  maintenance  and  repair  of  track. Further, following steps are taken to ensure safety of track:-

-  Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS)  rails,  Pre-stressed  Concrete  Sleeper  (PSC)  Normal/Wide  base sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fanshaped  layout  turnout  on  PSC sleepers,  Steel  Channel/H-beam  Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used, while carrying out primary track renewals.
-  Long rail  panels  of  260  M/130M  length  are  being  manufactured  at  the steel plant to minimize number of Alumino Thermit joints in the track.
-  Patrolling of railway tracks is done to look out for weld/rail fractures for ensuring safety.
-  Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect  flaws  and timely removal of defective rails.
-  Mechanization  of  track  maintenance  is  being  carried  out  to  reduce human errors.
-  Track management system has been introduced on Indian Railways for development  of  database  and  decision  support  system  and  to  decide rationalize maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
-  Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
-  Safety  fencing  has  been  stipulated  at  vulnerable  locations  for  speed above 110 kmph to 130 kmph and all along the track for speed above 130 kmph, as a minimum standard.

(d) and (e) 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, therefore, State Governments are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of crime  and  maintenance  of  law  and  order  on  Railways  through  their  law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP/District Police  to  provide  better  protection  and  security  to  railway  property, passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith.

During  the  year  2023  (up  to  Nov),  04  incidents  of  obstruction  by  putting foreign  elements  on  railway  tracks  by  anti-social  elements  on  route  of Vande Bharat trains were reported and action against the arrested persons in these cases have been taken as per law.

The  following  steps  are  taken  by  RPF  in  coordination  with  GRP/District police & Civil administration :-

1. Various awareness programme including OPERATION SATHI are conducted  regularly  in  inhabited  areas  adjacent  to  Railway  track  to sensitize people towards the menace of stone pelting and its consequences.
2. Public  are  being  made  aware  of  the  consequences  arising  out  of agitation  leading  to  damage  &  destruction  of  railway  property  during these agitations.
3. The train escorting parties have been sensitized to remain more vigilant in  the  vulnerable  sections/spots,  where  incidents  of  vandalizing  on trains are frequently reported.
4. Detailed  guidelines  have  been  issued  regarding  action  to  be  taken  to control  incidents  of  stone  pelting  on  moving  trains.  Analysis  of  these incidents followed by substantive action is taken to curb these incidents.
5. Regular drives are conducted against anti-social elements like drunkard, mischievous elements etc. in the effected section/black spots and the apprehended persons are prosecuted under legal provisions of law.
6. State Level Security Committee  of Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted  for  all  State/Union  Territories  under  the  Chairmanship  of respective  Director  General  of  Police/Commissioner  of  States/Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways.
7. *****