Lok Sabha Question No. 1111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Passenger Amenities in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## PASSENGER AMENITIES IN RAILWAYS

## 1111. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to restore the passenger amenities, facilities  and  concessions  in  trains  similar  to  pre-Covid  stage,  if  so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  restored  the  de-reserved  facilities available  in  trains  running  through  Kollam  railway  station,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details regarding the present status of the developmental activities of Kollam railway station;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  complete  the  development  of Kollam  railway  station  in  a  time  bound  manner,  if  so,  the  proposed date of completion of the same;
- (e) the  details  of  amenities  and  facilities  proposed  to  be  provided  in Kollam railway station as the part of developmental activities;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to complete the work earlier than the proposed date, if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether the Government proposed to restore the travel concessions of a senior citizen, if so, the details of action taken thereon; and
- (h) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  restore  all  the  stoppages  in Kollam Lok Sabha constituency exist prior to covid-19 and if so, the details of stops, cancelled and restored till this date and the details of stoppages proposed to restore?

## ANSWER

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

( SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1111 BY SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  26.07.2023  REGARDING

PASSENGER AMENITIES IN RAILWAYS

- (a):  Due  to  restrictions  imposed  during  Covid-19  pandemic  vide Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for movement of passengers by trains, the services like unreserved coaches, linen, blankets, curtains, catering facilities etc., were withdrawn. All these services have been restored back. As regards concessions in passenger fare it  is  informed  that  Government  gave  subsidy  of ` 59,837  crore  on passenger tickets in 2019-20. This amounts to concession of 53% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways.  This subsidy is continuing  for  all  passengers.   Further,  concessions  beyond  this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like Divyangjans, students and Patients.
- (b):  The  de-reservation  facility  in  sleeper  class  in  trains  running through Kollam has already been restored in 11 trains.
- (c)  to  (f):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme (ABSS) for development of Stations on Indian Railways. This scheme  envisages  development  of  stations  on  a  continuous  basis with a long term approach.

So  far,  1309  railway  stations  have  been  identified  under  this scheme.  Kollam  is  one  of  stations  undertaken  for  redevelopment under this scheme.

Redevelopment  of  Kollam  Railway  Station  includes  aesthetically terminal lifts, facilities  for  passengers  including appealing architecture, Southern and Northern side buildings, spacious Roof Plaza, multilevel car parking, escalators,  state  of the  art facilities for Divyangjan etc.

Development/Redevelopment  of  Railway  Stations  is  complex  in nature  involving  safety  of  passengers  and  trains  and  requires various statutory clearances from urban/local bodies etc. and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage.

- (g): Already replied in respect of item (a) above.

(h):  Indian  Railways  have  undertaken  rationalization  of  the  time table, including rationalization of stoppages, in a scientific manner with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. The exercise has been undertaken  inter  alia  to  provide  for  better  passenger  safety  by creating maintenance corridor blocks, minimizing conflicts in existing  time  table  generation  of  additional  path  for  freight  traffic and  speed  up  train  services.  However,  to  facilitate  passengers, stoppage of 8 trains at 5 stations in Kayankulam-Kollam-Aryankavu section  including  stoppage  of  20923/20924  Tirunelveli-Gandhidham Humsafar Express at Kollam (w.e.f 20.07.2023) have been provided. Besides,  provision  of  stoppage  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  on Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, commercial viability etc.

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