Lok Sabha Question No. 2055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Railway Grievances in Hingoli Lok Sabha Constituency
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2055 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## RAILWAY GRIEVANCES IN HINGOLI LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCY

## 2055. SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  acute  hardship  faced  by passengers in the Hingoli Lok Sabha Constituency, Maharashtra due to frequent  cancellations,  short-terminations,  irregular  running  of  trains, the recent reduction in coach capacity/removal of general coaches, nonavailability of reserved tickets, long waiting list and extreme overcrowding;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  specifically  the  impact  on  daily  commuters, students,  women  and  elderly  passengers,  farmers,  patients,  etc.,  the reasons for such disruptions and non- augmentation of coaches despite rising demand;
- (c) whether it is a fact that several railway stations in the Hingoli district currently  face  serious  deficiencies  in  basic  passenger  amenities  and safety  infrastructure,  including  non-functional  toilets,  lack  of  drinking water, inadequate lighting, the absence of foot overbridges and unsafe platforms;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  for  the  delay  in  the upgradation/redevelopment  of  these  stations  despite  repeated  public representations;
- (e) whether the Government has received requests for providing stoppages for important long- distance trains at Hingoli Road, adjoining stations and if so, the action taken thereon to prevent passengers from resorting to costly and unsafe road travel; and
- (f) the details of immediate corrective measures and budgetary provisions proposed to be taken by the Government in the current financial year to restore  punctual  train  services,  improve  station  infrastructure  and ensure the safety of passengers in this backward and tribal-dominated constituency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f) Indian Railways in its endeavour to provide safer and better travel experience to the passengers, undertakes infrastructural and maintenancerelated works. To facilitate these works, partial cancellation, cancellation and diversion of some trains are necessitated. Accordingly, during 2025-26, a few trips of trains passing through Hingoli Deccan station were cancelled and trains were diverted. However, these are restored back once the works are complete.

Hingoli Deccan is served by 38 train services providing connectivity to cities like Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hazur Sahib Nanded, Tirupati, Kacheguda, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow).

|   S.N. | Train No. & Name                                           |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | 11403/04 Nagpur - SCSM (T) Kolhapur Express                |
|      2 | 11405/06 Pune - Amravati Express                           |
|      3 | 12071/72 Mumbai CSMT - Hingoli Deccan Jan Shatabdi Express |
|      4 | 12421/22 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Amritsar Express             |
|      5 | 12439/40 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Shri Ganganagar Express      |
|      6 | 12485/86 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Shri Ganganagar Express      |
|      7 | 12719/20 Jaipur - Hyderabad Express                        |
|      8 | 12751/52 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express  |
|      9 | 12765/66 Tirupati - Amravati Express                       |
|     10 | 17605/06 Kacheguda - Bhagat Ki Kothi Express               |
|     11 | 17639/40 Kacheguda - Akola Express                         |
|     12 | 17641/42 Kacheguda - Narkher Express                       |
|     13 | 17683/84 Akola -Purna Express                              |
|     14 | 19301/02 Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow) - Yesvantpur Express    |
|     15 | 19713/14 Jaipur - Kurnool City Express                     |
|     16 | 22709/10 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Amb Andaura Express          |
|     17 | 22723/24 Hazur Sahib Nanded - Shri Ganganagar Express      |
|     18 | 57655 Parli Vaijnath-Akola Passenger                       |

|   19 | 57656 Akola-Purna Passenger     |
|------|---------------------------------|
|   20 | 77613 Purna-Akola DEMU          |
|   21 | 77614 Akola-Parli Vaijnath DEMU |

Besides,  provision  of  stoppage  of  train  services,  depends  on  the  traffic justification, operational feasibility including availability of extra time on the section & availability of matching infrastructure such as Platform length etc.

## Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Further,  to  provide  better  amenities  at  stations,  Ministry  of  Railways  has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for redevelopment of stations with a long-term approach. The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation in phases to improve the stations. The master planning includes:

- Improvement of access to station and circulating areas
- Integration of station with both sides of city
- Improvement of station building
- Improvement  of  waiting  halls,  toilets,  sitting  arrangement,  water booths
- Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate with passenger traffic
- Provision of lift/escalators/ramp
- Improvement/Provision of platform surface and cover over platforms
- Provision  of  kiosks  for  local  products  through  schemes  like  'One Station One Product'
- Parking areas, Multimodal integration
- Amenities for Divyangjans
- Better passenger information systems
- Provision of executive lounges, nominated  spaces  for business meetings,  landscaping,  etc.  keeping  in  view  the  necessity  at  each station

The scheme also envisages sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks etc. as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

So  far,  1337  stations  have  been  identified  for  development  under  this scheme, out of which 132 stations including Himayatnagar, Hingoli Deccan and  Kinwat  stations  of  Hingoli  Lok  Sabha  Constituency,  are  located  in Maharashtra. The names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Maharashtra are as following:

| State       |   No. of Statio ns | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Maharashtra |                132 | Ahmednagar, Ajni (Nagpur), Akalkot Road, Akola, Akurdi, Amalner, Amgaon, Amravati, Andheri, Badnera, Balharshah, Bandra Terminus, Baramati, Belapur, Bhandara Road, Bhokar, Bhusawal, Borivali, Byculla, Chalisgaon, Chanda Fort, Chandrapur, Charni Road, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Chinchpokli, Chinchwad, Dadar (CR), Dadar (WR), Dahisar, Daund, Dehu Road, Devlali, Dhamangaon, Dharangaon, Dharashiv, Dharmabad, Dhule, Diva, Dudhani, Gangakher, Godhani, Gondia, Grant Road, Hadapsar, Hatkanangale, Hazur Sahib Nanded, Himayatnagar, Hinganghat, Hingoli Deccan, Igatpuri, Jalgaon, Jalna, Jeur, Jogeshwari, Kalyan Jn, Kamptee, Kandivali, Kanjur Marg, Karad, Katol, Kedgaon, Kinwat, Kopargaon, Kurduwadi Jn, Kurla Jn, Lasalgaon, Latur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Lonand Jn, Lonavla, |

| Lower Parel, Malad, Malkapur, Manmad Jn, Manwath Road, Marine Lines, Matunga, Miraj Jn, Mudkhed Jn, Mumbai Central, Mumbra, Murtizapur Jn, Nagarsol, Nagpur Jn, Nandgaon, Nandura, Nandurbar, Narkher Jn, Nashik Road, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Junction, Pachora Jn, Palghar, Pandharpur, Panvel Jn, Parbhani Jn, Parel, Parli Vaijnath, Partur, Phaltan, Prabhadevi, Pulgaon Jn, Pune Jn, Purna Jn, Raver, Rotegaon, Sainagar Shirdi, Sandhurst Road, Sangli, Satara, Savda, Selu, Sewagram, Shahad, Shegaon, Shivaji Nagar Pune, Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Kolhapur, Solapur, Talegaon, Thakurli, Thane, Titvala, Tumsar Road, Umri, Uruli, Vadala Road, Vidyavihar, Vikhroli, Wadsa, Wardha, Washim, Wathar   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Maharashtra  have  been  taken  up  at  a  good  pace.  Till  now,  works  of  17 stations  (Amgaon,  Baramati,  Chanda  Fort,  Chinchpokli,  Devlali,  Dhule, Kedgaon,  Lasalgaon,  Lonand  Jn,  Matunga,  Murtizapur  Jn,  Nandura,  Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Junction, Parel, Savda, Shahad, Vadala Road) in Maharashtra have been completed under this scheme. The works at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of above stations is as given below:

- Himayatnagar station: The works of improvement of station building, porch, platform shelter, improvement of platform surface, waiting hall, toilet, circulating area and lift have been taken up.
- Hingoli Deccan station: The works of platform shelter and improvement of platform surface of platform no. 2 have been completed. The works
- of  new  station  building,  improvement  of  existing  station  building, platform surface of platform no. 1, circulating area, lift and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
- Kinwat station: The works of improvement of station building, porch, platform shelter, improvement of platform surface, waiting hall, toilet, circulating area, lift and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
- Washim station: The works of improvement of station building, porch, improvement  of  platforms,  platform  shelter,  improvement  of  waiting hall, toilet, circulating area, lift and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
- Manwath  Road  station:  The  work  of  platform  shelter  has  been completed.  The  works  of  improvement  to  station  building,  entrance porch, platform surfacing, waiting hall, toilet and lift have been taken up.

Further,  development  /  redevelopment  /  upgradation  /  modernisation  of stations  on  Indian  Railways  including  provision  for  toilet,  drinking  water, lighting, Foot Over Bridge, platforms etc. is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to interse priority and availability of funds. Development  / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of a station is carried out based on category of station/condition/traffic handled etc.

Development / Upgradation of railway stations is complex in nature involving safety of passengers & trains and requires various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress also gets affected due to brownfield related challenges such as shifting of utilities  (involving  water/sewage lines, optical fibre cables, gas pipe lines, power/signal cables, etc.), infringements, operation of trains without hindering passenger movement, speed restrictions due to works carried out in  close  proximity  of  tracks  and  high  voltage  power  lines,  etc.  and  these factors affect the completion time.

Suggestions / Representations, both formal and informal for Railway projects / Works across the country are received on the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Members of Parliament, Ministries of Central Government, elected representatives, Railways' own requirements, organizations  /  rail  users  etc.,  at  various  levels  including  Railway  Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. Receipt of such suggestions / representations  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic  process  and  these  are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time. Development  /  Upgradation  /  Modernization  of  stations  including  Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities'. The details of allocation and expenditure under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or statewise. Maharashtra is covered under the jurisdiction of four railway zones, namely, Central Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway and Western Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 3,834 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26, out of which an expenditure (up to December, 2025) of ₹ 3,122 crore has been incurred so far. Safety: Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of various safety measures taken over the years, including those for level crossings, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents. Number of Consequential Train Accidents has reduced as shown in the table below:-

No. of Consequential Train Accidents

| Year                      | Consequential Accidents   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15                   | 135                       |
| 2025-26 (Till 31.01.2026) | 12 (90% lesser)           |

Another important index showing improvement in safety in train operations is Consequential Accidents Index, the details of which are as under:-

31

2024-25

T

12

2025-26

| Year    | Accident Index    |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2014-15 | 0.11              |
| 2024-25 | 0.03 (73% lesser) |

## Consequential Accident Index:-

2005-06

2009-10

2014-15

2019-20

This index measures number of consequential accidents as a ratio of total running Kilometers of all trains.

No. of consequential accidents

No. of trains X million kilometers run

<!-- image -->

## Accident Index   =

The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train operations are as under:-

1.    On  Indian  Railways,  the  expenditure  on  Safety  related  activities  has increased over the years as under:-
2.   Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,660 stations up to 31.12.2025 to reduce accidents due to human failure.
3.  Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at  10,097 Level Crossing Gates up to 31.12.2025 for enhancing safety at LC Gates.
4. Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by electrical means has been provided at 6,665 stations up to 31.12.2025.
5.  Kavach is  a  highly  technology  intensive  system,  which  requires  safety certification of highest order. Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. Based on deployment of Kavach version 3.2 on 1465 RKm on South Central Railway and experience gained, further improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.

| Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                                                        | 2022-23                                                        | 2023-24                                                        | 2024-25                                                        | 2025-26                                                        |
| 39,200                                                         | 87,336                                                         | 1,01,662                                                       | 1,14,022                                                       | 1,17,693                                                       |

After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach  Version 4.0 has been successfully  commissioned  on  1297  Route  Kilometres,  covering  the  high density Delhi - Mumbai and Delhi - Howrah routes. On the Delhi - Mumbai route Kavach ver 4.0 has been commissioned on Junction cabin - Palwal Mathura - Nagda section (667 Rkm) & Ahmedabad - Vadodara - Virar section

- (432 Rkm) and on the Delhi - Howrah route on Gaya - Sarmatanr (93 Rkm) and Bardhaman - Howrah section (105 Rkm). 6.  Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Signalling,  e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued. 7.  System  of  disconnection  and  reconnection  for  S&T  equipment  as  per protocol has been re-emphasized. 8.  All  locomotives  are  equipped  with  Vigilance  Control  Devices  (VCD)  to improve alertness of Loco Pilots. 9.  Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is located two OHE masts prior to the signals in electrified territories to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather. 10. A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected  areas  which  enables  loco  pilots  to  know  the  distance  of  the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates, etc. 11. Modern track structure consisting of 60 kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base sleepers with  elastic  fastening,  fan  shaped  layout  turnout  on  PSC  sleepers,  Steel Channel/H-beam  Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used  while  carrying  out primary track renewals. 12. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to reduce human errors. 13. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing progress of rail renewal and avoiding welding of joints, thereby improving safety. 14. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and
- timely removal of defective rails.
15. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e., Flash Butt Welding. 16. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars). 17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures. 18. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works. 19. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices. 20. Web based online monitoring system of track assets viz. Track database and  decision  support  system  has  been  adopted  to  decide  rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs. 21.  Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track,  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions, etc. have been issued. 22.  Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations. 23.  Replacement  of  conventional  ICF  design  coaches  with  LHB  design coaches is being done. 24. All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have
- been eliminated by January 2019.
25.  Safety  of  Railway  Bridges  is  ensured  through  regular  inspection  of Bridges.  The  requirement  of  repair/rehabilitation  of  Bridges  is  taken  up based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
26. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory 'Fire Notices' for widespread passenger  information  in  all  coaches.  Fire  posters  are  provided  in  every

coach so as to educate and alert passengers  regarding various Do's and Don'ts to prevent fire. These include messages regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.

27. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured coaches. Progressive fitment of the same in existing coaches is also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner.
28.  Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
29.  Concept  of  Rolling  Block  introduced  in  Indian  Railways  (Open  Lines) General Rules vide Gazette notification dated 30.11.2023, wherein work of integrated maintenance/ repair/replacement of assets is planned up to 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

The  details  of  the  Safety  related  works  related  to  better  maintenance practices,  Technological  improvements,  better  infrastructure  and  rolling stock etc. undertaken by Railways are tabulated below:-

| SN   | Item                                  | 2004-05 to 2013-14         | 2014-15 to 2024-25          | 2014-25 Vs. 2004-14        |
|------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|
|      | Technological Improvements            | Technological Improvements | Technological Improvements  | Technological Improvements |
| 1.   | Use of high-quality rails(60 Kg) (Km) | 57,450 Km                  | 1.43 Lakh Km                | More than 2 times          |
| 2.   | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)        | 9,917 Km                   | 77,522 Km                   | Nearly 8 times             |
| 3.   | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)    | 837 Stations               | 3,691 Stations              | More than 4 times          |
| 4.   | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)        | As on 31.03.14: 90 Nos.    | As on 31.03.25: 25,939 Nos. | 288 times                  |

| 5.                                      | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                 | Nil                                     | 28,301 Nos.                                     |                                         |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Better Maintenance Practices            | Better Maintenance Practices                              | Better Maintenance Practices            | Better Maintenance Practices                    | Better Maintenance Practices            |
| 1.                                      | Primary Rail Renewal (Track Km)                           | 32,260 Km                               | 49,941 Km                                       | 1.5 times                               |
| 2.                                      | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 Lakh                              | 2 Crore                                         | More than 2 times                       |
| 3.                                      | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013- 14: 3699 Nos.                  | In 2024-25: 370 Nos.                            | 90 % reduction                          |
| 4.                                      | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013- 14: 2548 Nos.                  | In 2024-25: 289 Nos.                            | More than 88% reduction                 |
| Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock                   | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock         | Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock |
| 1.                                      | NewTrack KMadded (Track Km)                               | 14,985 Km                               | 34,428 Km                                       | More than 2 times                       |
| 2.                                      | Flyovers (RoBs)/Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.)                 | 4,148 Nos.                              | 13,808 Nos.                                     | More than 3 times                       |
| 3.                                      | Unmanned Level crossings (Nos.) on BG                     | As on 31.03.14: 8,948                   | As on 31.03.24:Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed                                 |
| 4.                                      | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                         | 2,337 Nos.                              | 42,677                                          | More than 18 times                      |

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