Lok Sabha Question No. 245 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Track Renewal Work
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.245 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## TRACK RENEWAL WORK

*245.    SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total length of railway tracks in the country;

(b) whether more than 5300 km length of the track is due for renewal and if so, the details of track-wise reasons for the backlog of renewal projects;

- (c) whether arrears of track renewal are accumulating year by year resulting in  disproportionately  high  maintenance  and  reduced  reliability  of  assets and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  has  prepared  any  target  plan  for  track  renewal during the Twelfth Plan period and if so, the details thereof, zone-wise; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Railways to speed up the track renewal works to reduce the maintenance cost and increase the reliability of assets?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  STARRED QUESTON NO. 245 BY SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT  AND SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2016 REGARDING TRACK RENEWAL WORK.

(a) The total railway track length as on 31.3.2015 is 1,17,996 Kilometers.

(b) & (c): Track renewal is a continuous activity, which is to be undertaken as and  when  a  stretch  of  track  becomes  due  for  renewal  on  age-cum-condition basis. Track renewal are planned in advance every year and their execution is prioritized  according  to  condition  of  track  and  overall  availability  of  funds ensuring all the time that the track is in a sound condition for safe running of trains  In  case,  if  any  stretch  of  track  is  not  renewed  in  time  due  to  various reasons including scarcity of funds, suitable speed restrictions is imposed to ensure  safe  running  of  trains.  The  sanctioned  track  renewal  yet  to  be completed have reduced from 7258 km for the year 2008-09 to 5300 km for the year 2014-15. Further, it has reduced to 5100 km in 2015-16.

(d):  Track  renewal  targets  are  fixed  every  year.  The  details  of  track  renewal targets during twelfth plan period, zone-wise are as below:

Complete Track renewal Units (CTR Units)

| Railway                    |   2012-13 |   2013-14* |   2014-15* |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|----------------------------|-----------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|
| Central Railway            |       244 |        156 |        200 |       220 |       124 |
| Eastern Railway            |       207 |        195 |        183 |       200 |       108 |
| East Central Railway       |       200 |        149 |        171 |       150 |       105 |
| East Coast Railway         |        71 |         70 |         62 |       110 |        58 |
| Northern Railway           |       627 |        359 |        385 |       390 |       299 |
| North Central Railway      |       257 |        203 |        130 |       150 |        94 |
| North Eastern Railway      |       112 |         48 |         68 |        90 |        44 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |        76 |         53 |         27 |        50 |        21 |
| North Western Railway      |        58 |         24 |         24 |        50 |        40 |
| Southern Railway           |       133 |         90 |        102 |       150 |       111 |
| South Central Railway      |       285 |        197 |        175 |       190 |        67 |
| South Eastern Railway      |       156 |        111 |        110 |       150 |        58 |
| South East Central Railway |        84 |         71 |        102 |       120 |        98 |
| South Western Railway      |       117 |        105 |        102 |       110 |        59 |
| Western Railway            |       194 |        143 |        165 |       190 |       121 |
| West Central Railway       |       179 |        126 |        194 |       180 |        93 |
| Total                      |      3000 |       2100 |       2200 |      2500 |      1500 |

Note:- * denotes Revised Targets

- (e) Steps taken by Railways to speed up Track renewal, to reduce maintenance cost and increase the reliability of assets are as under:
- (i) The track length sanctioned for renewal in 2016-17 has been increased from 1028 km in 2014-15 to 2950 km in year 2016-17.
- (ii) The progress of Track renewal has increased from 2424 km in 2014-15 to 2794 km in 2015-16.
- (iii) Bio Toilets are being provided in trains to prevent corrosion of rails due to toilet droppings. All  Trains  running  between  Rameswaram  and Manmadurai in Southern Railway have been fitted with Bio Toilets. This section has been declared Green Corridor.
- (iv) A proposal for creation of graded Rastriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) of total ` 119183 crores for safety related works to be operated over next five  years has been sent to Ministry of Finance for reconsideration, the details of which are as under.
- (v) Electronic monitoring of track geometry with Track Recording Cars (TRC) and Portable Oscillation Monitoring (OMS) Systems to detect track geometry defects to plan  maintenance timely
- (vi) Scheduled inspection of track by Railway Officials as per laid down frequency
- (vii) Use  of  Technology  like  Track  Management  System  to  decide rationalized  maintenance  requirement  and  optimized  inputs  by providing database and decision support system.
- (viii) Improved  tools  with  reduced  weight  have  been  standardized  for trackmen to help them in better maintenance of tracks.

| Item of Work                                                                                                                                | Total Anticipated amount   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| Civil Engineering Assets including Track Renewal, rehabilitation of Bridges and Isolation of Railway Line etc.                              | ` 44979 Cr.                |
| Safety Works at Level crossings including construction of ROBs/RUBs.                                                                        | ` 43444 Cr.                |
| S&T Department (Provision of Train Protection warning system, upgradation of Signalling system, etc.)                                       | ` 10140 Cr.                |
| Mechanical Engineering Department (Freight and Coach design and maintenance etc.)                                                           | ` 9236.55 Cr.              |
| Electrical Engineering Department ( Replacement of overaged Traction Distribution System, audio/video recording of Loco cabs, etc.)         | ` 9495 Cr.                 |
| Human Resource Development which includes Upgradation of training institutes, running rooms, crew lobbies and setting up of safety village. | ` 1861.44 Cr               |
| Total                                                                                                                                       | ` 119183 Cr.               |

Track  renewal  works  are  prioritized  according  to  overall availability  of  funds  ensuring  all  the  time  that  track  is  in  sound condition  for  safe  running  of  trains.  As  on  31.03.2016,  Track Renewal and related works covering 2950 km have been sanctioned.  In  addition,  2950  km  Track  Renewal  have  also  been sanctioned in 2016-17.  As per norms, Track Renewals works are to be completed within two to three years of sanction. This, however, also depends on budget availability.

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