opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Stoppage Policy for Duronto Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. KARUNAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## STOPPAGE POLICY FOR DURONTO TRAIN

3400. SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways have revised the stoppage policy of Duronto Express trains;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

(c) whether  the  revised  Policy  is  likely  to  be  applicable  to  all  the Duronto trains and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d): With a view to improving the patronization of Duronto Express trains, the policy relating to provision of stoppages enroute have been reviewed  and  it  has  been  decided  that  in  respect  of  certain  suboptimally  patronized  Duronto  Express  trains,  commercial  stoppages  at stations where such trains are presently scheduled to halt on account of operational compulsions, have been permitted in order to enhance their revenue generating potential. Accordingly, it has been decided that 23 pairs  of  Duronto  Express  trains  (of  the  total  of  existing  27  pairs  of Duronto Express trains) will provide commercial stoppage(s) additionally at enroute station(s).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Liberalised Wagon Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3399 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## LIBERALISED WAGON SCHEME

## 3399.    SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways have launched any Liberalised Wagon Investment Scheme (LWIS) for procurement of rakes of Special Purpose Wagons;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the performance of the said scheme; and
- (c) the total number of private and public sector undertakings have utilised the  said  LWIS  Scheme and the complete details of the utilisation under LWIS Scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) &  (b)    Liberalised  Wagon  Investment  Scheme  (LWIS)  was  notified  on 15.04.2008  for  procurement  of  Special  Purpose  Wagons  (SPW)  and  High Capacity  Wagons  (HCW)  through  Private  Investment  by  end  users  (viz. producers, manufacturers and consumers of goods).

Against  approvals  for  procurement  of  55  rakes,  having  an  approximate value  of ` 1289.07  crores,  that  have  so  far  been  accorded  to  various customers,  30  rakes  have  already  been  procured/  inducted  and  are running over Indian Railways.

- (c) Approval for procurement of rakes under the said scheme has been given to 11 private companies and 3 public sector undertakings. Out of 30 rakes procured so far, private companies have procured 27 rakes and 3 rakes have been procured by public sector undertaking.
- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3398 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Rail Line Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RITA TARAI, BALABHADRA MAJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3398 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## RAIL LINE PROJECT

## 3398. SHRIMATI RITA TARAI: SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to commission the rail line between Khurda-Nayagarh;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Railways have any proposal to construct the KhurdaBolangir Railway Project;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)  to  (e):    Khurda  Road-Bolangir  new  Railway  line  is  already  a sanctioned  project.    Khurda  Road-Begunia(32.5Km)  section  of  the project has been completed and commissioned. Earthwork,  formation, ballast  supply  and  Bridgework    have  been  taken  up  in  Begunia  Nayagarh(34 Km) section. An amount of ` 195 crore has been allocated to this project in the Budget 2015-16.  No time-frame has been fixed for completion of this project including Begunia-Nayagarh section. However,  to  expedite  its  implementation,  an  MoU  was  signed  on 20.07.2015 between Ministry of Railways and Govt. of Odisha wherein Govt. of Odisha has agreed to provide land free of cost and share 50% cost of construction for Dasapalla-Bolangir (177 Km) part of the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: MMDR Amendment Bill, 2015
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF MINES**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3397**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 10** **th** **august 2015**

**MMDR Amendment Bill, 2015**

**3397.	SHRI. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:**

Will the Minister of **MINES** be pleased to state:

1. whether section 12A(6) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 will be applicable to cases of transfer of mineral concessions both prospecting and licences which are allotted to company prior to compulsory auction route;

1. if so, the details thereof;

1. whether the provision providing for merger/demerger and amalgamation under the company Act 2013 is in contravention to it; and

1. if so, the specific proposals of the Government to address the issues relating to transfer of mineral concessions rising out of merger/demerger/amalgamation allocated prior to introduction of the auction process?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF MINES AND STEEL (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)**

(a) & (b): Yes Madam. Section 12A (6) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 which came into effect from 12.01.2015 stipulates that the transfer of mineral concessions shall be allowed only for concessions which are granted through auction.  However, the matter is being referred to the Department of Legal Affairs for seeking clarification.

(c) & (d):  The merger/demerger and amalgamation under the Company Act, 2013 takes place between the companies. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 regulates the transferability of mineral concessions. Therefore, the provision providing for merger/demerger and amalgamation under the Company Act, 2013 is not in contravention to Section 12A (6) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015.

* * * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 3394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Implementation of Act in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3394 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT IN RAILWAYS

## 3394. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways have been providing facilities and employment  to  persons  with  disabilities  as  mandated  by  the Persons  with  Disabilities  (Equal  Opportunities,  Protection  of Right and Full Participation) Act, 1995;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the cases of violation of the said Act by the Railways have come to the notice of the Government during each of the last three years and the current;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, zone-wise; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government for proper implementation of the said Act in the Railways?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (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.  3394  BY  SHRI  BHARTRUHARI  MAHTAB TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  10.08.2015  REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT IN RAILWAYS

(a), (b) & (e) Pursuant to the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right and Full Participation) Act, 1995, a policy  was  framed  stipulating  that  a  Railway  servant  who  fails  in  a vision test or otherwise by virtue of disability acquired during service becomes  physically  incapable  of  performing  the  duties  of  the  post which he occupies should not be dispensed with or reduced in rank, but should be shifted to some other post with the same pay scale and service  benefits.    Further,  the  persons  with  disabilities  may  be exempted from the rotational transfer policy/transfer and be allowed to  continue  in  the  same  job,  where  they  would  have  achieved  the desired  performance.    Preference  in  place  of  posting  at  the  time  of transfer/promotion may be given to the persons with disability subject to the administrative constraints.  The practice of considering choice of  place  of  posting  in  case  of  persons  with  disabilities  may  be continued.

As regards employment  to Persons with Disabilities, it is mentioned  that  as  per  the  directives  of  DOP&T,  the  provisions  of providing 3% reservation (1% each for Visually Handicapped, Hearing Handicapped & Orthopedically Handicapped) are being followed in the Railways.

- (c) No, Madam.
- (d) Does not arise.

* * * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 3392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: US Pre-Clearance Travel Facility at Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3392

(To be answered on the 10 th  August 2015)

## US PRE-CLEARANCE TRAVEL FACILITY AT AIRPORTS

## 3392. SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Air  India  has  sought  the  US  Customs  and  Border Protection (CBP) facility at major airports of the country including Delhi and Mumbai airports so as to enable its fliers land in the United States as
- domestic passengers;
- (b) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard; and
- (c) whether Air India has felt the need for such set-up as certain airports across the globe have similar facility and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

- (a) to (c): Yes, Madam. Air India had written to the Ministry to extend pre-clearance facility to its passengers in order to ease their travel to USA. This facility  is  available  in  many  countries  and,  as  per  last information, has also been established in Abu Dhabi. A  standing InterMinisterial Group (IMG) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation for this purpose and views of Ministry of External Affairs obtained in the matter. However, the implications of such a measure/facility have been found to be far reaching and therefore put in 'non-starter category'

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Rail Neer
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUSHAWAHA, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3391 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## RAIL NEER

†3391. SHRI RAVINDER KUSHAWAHA: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  have  any  assessment  relating  to  the  total requirement/ supply of branded bottled water in trains and platforms and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Railways have taken cognizance of increasing case of non branded  bottled  water/poor  quality  of  water  being  sold  in  trains  and platforms across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways are aware that despite the instructions from the Railways, the vendors are selling non branded bottled water;
- (d)  if  so,  whether  the  Railways  have  conducted  any  raids/checks  with regard to sale of non branded water in trains and platforms and if so, the number of cases registered  during  the  last  three  years,  State/  UT-wise; and
- (e)  the  details  of  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Railways  in  this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) As  per  assessment  made  by  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the present requirement of Packaged Drinking Water over Indian Railways is about 25 lakh litres per day.

Contd..2/-

(b) to (e) Rail Neer and other Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) approved Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) brands shortlisted  by Zonal Railways are sold  on  Railway  stations/on  trains.    Regular,  surprise  and  periodical checks are carried out by Railway personnel to verify that only Railwayapproved brands of Packaged Drinking Water bottles are sold at Railway stations and in trains.   A  total of 960 complaints regarding sale of nonbranded  packaged  drinking  water  bottles  in  trains  and  stations  were received during the last three years (i.e. 01.08.2012 to 31.07.2015). Penal action against defaulting licensees included imposition of monetary fines to the tune of ₹ 7,10,000/- in 341 cases.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Promotion to Reserved Posts in AAI
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3389

(To be answered on the 10 th  August 2015)

## PROMOTION TO RESERVED POSTS IN AAI

3389.

DR. UDIT RAJ

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

*****

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether there are reserved posts for promotion from Manager to Senior Manager in the Airports Authority of India (AAI);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether AAI has removed these reserved posts from promotion; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a) & (b) : No Madam. Reservation in promotion from Manager to Senior Manager (which is within Group 'A') is not applicable in terms of the Government of India instructions, according to which reservation in promotion by selection is applicable upto the lowest rung of Group 'A' i.e. Manager (E-3).

(c) & (d) : Do not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Narrow Escape of Air India&#39;s Flight
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, K. MARAGATHAM, R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3388

(To be answered on the 10 th  August 2015)

## NARROW ESCAPE OF AIR INDIA'S FLIGHT

3388.

SHRI R. PARTHIPAN

SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.

SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM

SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a)  &  (b)  :  Air  India  A-319  aircraft  VT-SCL  was  involved  in  an occurrence while operating flight AI-513 (Bangaluru-Hyderabad) on 28.06.2015, wherein due to variable winds, the aircraft went around at around 20 feet during which balked landing (touch and go) was carried out.

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether there has been a recent incident wherein an Air India's Bengaluru-Hyderabad flight had a narrow escape as the pilot did a "touch and go" after bouncing on the runway during landing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has
- ordered a probe into the incident;
- (d) if so, the details and the findings thereof along with the action taken
- by DGCA on the basis of the findings; and
- (e) the steps taken by DGCA to avoid recurrence of such incidents in
- future?

(c) to (e) : Inquiry into the incident  is yet to be completed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Rail Infrastructure Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3386 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

3386.  SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways have approached to all State Governments to form  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  jointly  with  the  Ministry  to undertake  mutually  identified  rail  infrastructure  projects  for  project development, resources mobilization and monitoring purposes in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the names of States have so far displayed  interest  in  this  regard,  State-wise  including  West  Bengal; and
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3386  BY  SHRIMATI  MAUSAM  NOOR  TO  BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015 REGARDING RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

(a): Yes,  Madam.      To  expedite  completion  of  projects,  Ministry  of Railways has approached all State Governments to form Special Purpose Vehicles  (SPV)  jointly  with  Ministry  of  Railways  to  undertake  mutually identified  rail  infrastructure  projects  for  project  development,  resources mobilization and monitoring.

(b): 17  State  Governments,  viz.  Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab,  Rajasthan,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana,  Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal  have consented to form the SPVs.

(c): A draft Cabinet Note in this regard has been prepared and circulated to  the  concerned  Ministries  of  Central  Government.    Joint  Ventures  with State Governments can be implemented after the requisite approval of the Cabinet.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Flights between Delhi and Ludhiana
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3384

(To be answered on the 10 th  August 2015)

## FLIGHTS BETWEEN DELHI AND LUDHIANA

## 3384. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether his Ministry has taken up the issue of air connectivity between New Delhi and industrial city of Ludhiana with domestic private
- operators;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (c) the details of domestic private operators approached in this regard
- including those who have shown interest?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

- (a) to (c): Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) with a view to achieve better air transport services of different regions of the country. It is, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such, the Scheduled domestic airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance with   RDGs issued by the Government. However, in a  meeting  convened recently to discuss operations of flights to/from  cities  in  Punjab,  the    airline  operator    'Alliance  Air'  has requested for full viability gap funding for mounting flights to/from cities in Punjab.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: GPS in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3383

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## GPS IN TRAINS

†3383.   SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  have  taken  a  decision  to  install  Global Positioning  System  (GPS)  and  destination  display  boards  in  trains  to give  information  about  the  next  station  and  to  ensure  punctuality  in the running of trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Railways have already launched pilot project to install GPS in coaches of some trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways have reviewed the performance of destination display boards installed in various trains; and
- (d)    if  so,  the  number  of  trains  in  which  destination  display  board facility  is  available  and  the  details  of  expenditure  made  by  the Railways on the said scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a): Yes, Madam. Railway plans to install Global Position System based Passenger  Information  Boards  and  Destination  Display  Boards  on important trains in a phased manner.

(b):  Global  Position  System  based  Passenger  Information  System  to give information about  next  station is being provided in  newly manufactured  EMU  stock  for  Mumbai  area.  Passenger  Information System has also been provided in 4 coaches of Mail/Express trains on trial basis.

(c):  Yes, Madam. The performance of LED (Light Emitting Diode) based Destination Display Boards is periodically reviewed by the Railways.

(d):  Around  2353  coaches  have  been  provided  with  LED  based Destination Boards which is being fitted outside coaches to indicate coach  number  and  originating  and  terminating  station.  It  does  not provide  information  about  next  station.  These  coaches  are  being attached to different train services as per the traffic requirement.

Expenditure  of  around ` 26  crore  has  been  made  by  Railways  on provision of these Destination Display Boards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Broad Gauge Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3382 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## BROAD GAUGE LINE

## 3382.  KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  have  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  that  the newly constructed broad gauge line from Silchar is safe for plying passenger trains;
- (b) if so, whether the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has given its report about the safety of this line;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and raised any concern about the safety of this line; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)  to  (d):    Railways  take  all  necessary  steps  to  ensure  safety  of passenger trains before introducing any such trains on a newly constructed  /  converted  railway  line.    As  regards  Lumding-Silchar  line, goods  trains  have  been  introduced  since  27.03.2015.  Commissioner  of Railway  Safety  (CRS)  has  inspected  the  newly  converted  line  in  two stages  viz.  Lumding-Haflong  and  Haflong-Silchar,  and  submitted  his detailed inspection note wherein he has indicated some locations to be kept  under  watch  and  suggested  certain  safety  measures  to  be  taken. The Zonal Railway has taken up the compliance of these observations and regular passenger services can be introduced after the compliance of the observations of CRS.

*****