opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1923 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Construction of Railway Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1923 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY TRACKS

## +1923. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)       the present and future action plan to increase necessary track capacity for  passengers and rail freight traffic;
- (b)        the details of required rail track capacity, racks and passenger coaches and the current status of demand and supply; and
- (c)          the  details  of  progress  made  in  construction  of  railway  track during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)    to  (c)  At  present  out  of  1246  sections  on  Indian  Railways,  472 sections  are  saturated.    In  order  to  increase  the  track  capacity  155 New Line, 235 Doubling, 42 Gauge Conversion and 554 Traffic Facility works are already sanctioned.

Procurement of 3578 coaches and 12000 wagons have been sanctioned  for the current financial year. During the last three years i.e.  2012-13,  2013-14  and  2014-15,  track  linking  for  4918  Km  in  New Lines, Gauge Conversion and doubling projects has been done.

*****

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1922 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: MoUs with Afghanistan
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: CHARANJEET SINGH RORI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1922 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## MOUs WITH AFGHANISTAN

## 1922. SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH RORI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the MoUs signed between India and Afghanistan for the development of minerals and natural gas in Afghanistan;
- (b) the  present  status  of  the  railway  line  between  Chabahar  port  in  Iran  and Bamiyan province in Afghanistan which is proposed to be built by India; and
- (c) the  details  of  financial/infrastructural  commitments  made  to  Afghanistan  by India?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) The  concerned  authorities  of  India  and  Afghanistan  are  in  touch  with  each other regarding various aspects of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) on  Cooperation  in  the  Field  of  Development  of  Hydrocarbons, the  MoU  on Cooperation  in  the  Field  of  Mineral  Resources  Development  and  the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Development of Coal Mineral Resources, keeping in view, inter alia, the requirements of Afghanistan, the overall environment there and the avenues available under ongoing bilateral development cooperation, such as for capacity building.
- (b) No such proposal is under consideration of Government.
- (c) Since  2001,  India  has  committed  over  US  $  2  billion  to  Afghanistan  in development cooperation. The projects under such cooperation include the construction of Afghan Parliament Building, highway from Zaranj to Delaram (218 km) in  Nimroz province, 220 KV Transmission Line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul together with a sub-station at Chimtala, two more power sub-stations at Doshi and Charikar, Afghanistan  India  Friendship  Dam  (Salma  Dam),  setting  up  of  Afghanistan  National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU), implementation of Small Development  Projects,  provision  of  food  assistance  of  1  million  tonnes  of  wheat, partly  in  form  of  grain,  and  partly  as  biscuits  for  about  1.5  million  school  children provided through the World Food Programme, 1000 scholarships annually to Afghan students  for  undergraduate  and  higher  studies  in  India,  support  to  educational  and medical institutions such as Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul, training and medical treatment for personnel of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in  India,  capacity  building  for  Afghan  civil  servants  and  empowerment  of  Afghan women and youth.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Overcharging by Telecom Operators
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: K. KAMARAAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1921 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  MARCH,  2016

## OVERCHARGING BY TELECOM OPERATORS

1921. DR. K. KAMARAJ:

- Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received complaints from people on over-billing for over actual talk time and unfair charges for value added services from the telecoms' operator particularly private operators; (b) if so, the details thereof operator-wise during the last two years and the current year; and (c) the action taken by the Government in this regard, operator-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (c)   The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of  the House.
- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Kadapa-Bangalore Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1919 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## KADAPA-BANGALORE RAILWAY LINE

1919. SHRI Y .S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether completion of Kadapa-Bangalore Railway line has been inordinately delayed;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the quantum of funds   earmarked in the present railway budget for the above line?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)& (b): Kadapa-Bangalore (255 Km) new rail line was sanctioned in 2008-09 and its latest anticipated cost is ` 2061 crores.  Due to huge throwforward of ongoing projects and limited overall availability of funds  for  new  line  projects,  this  project  could  not  progress  at  the desired pace.
- (c)  In  Railway  Budget  2016-17,  an  allocation  of ` 58.19  crore  has been earmarked for this work.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1918 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Amenities at Tiruvalla Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1918 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## AMENITIES AT TIRUVALLA STATION

1918. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any request regarding financial assistance for providing basic amenities in Tiruvalla Railway Station in Southern Railway; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. A request has been received from Honourable Member  of  Parliament  for  allotment  of ` 1.0  Crore  from  Member  of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund during 2016-17 for augmentation of passenger amenities at Tiruvalla railway station. Tiruvalla is an 'A' category station. Following amenities are planned to be provided at Tiruvalla out of MPLAD funds:
- 
- 
- Augmentation to platform shelters.
- Development of parking area.
-  Improvement to waiting hall.
-  Augmentation of lavatories, urinals.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1917 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Railway Schools
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1917

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## RAILWAY SCHOOLS

## †1917.  SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  railway  schools  at  present  in  the country including Jharkhand;
- (b)   whether there is an acute shortage of teachers in some of these schools;
- (c) if so, the time by which the vacant posts are likely to be filled; and
- (d)    the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Railways  to  improve  the quality of education in these schools?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):      Indian Railways is running 137 Railway schools in the country including 11 schools in Jharkhand.
- (b)  &  (c):    Certain  vacancies  of  teachers  exist  in  Railway schools.  However,  occurrence  of  vacancies  and  recruitment is  a  continuous  process  for  which  indents  are  placed  on Railway Recruitment Boards by the concerned Zonal Railways.

(d):     To improve the quality of education in Railway schools, trainings are organized for Railway school teachers from time to time. Also, emphasis is laid on improving the infrastructure in Railway schools. Besides, engagement of contract teachers is allowed pending regular filling up of vacancies.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1916 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Electrification Work of AllahabadItarsi Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1916 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## ELECTRIFICATION WORK OF ALLAHABAD-ITARSI RAILWAY LINE †1916.   SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of progress  made  regarding  electrification work  of Allahabad-Itarsi railway line;
- (b)     the steps taken by the Government to accelerate the pace of work;
- (c)    whether any target has been fixed for electrification of Jabalpur-Itarsi railway section; and
- (d)     if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a):     The progress of various activities pertaining to electrical, signal & telecommunication and civil  engineering  works are in  different  stages  of execution  in  electrification  work  of  Allahabad  (Chheoki)  -  Itarsi  railway line.   As on 01.03.2016, overall physical progress of electrification work in the section is 60% and financial progress is 50%.
- (b):  To accelerate the pace of work,  various steps have been taken, which inter-alia include award of turn-key contracts, cultivation of new agencies for  works,  better  project  monitoring  mechanism  and  enhancing  power  of field units for award of contracts & sanction of estimates.
- (c) & (d):  Depending upon the overall availability of resources, the targets for electrification of rail lines are fixed on yearly basis.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: New Rail Coach and Engine Factories
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (i) Diesel Locomotives: Horse power of Diesel Locomotives has been increased from 2600 to 4500 HP. These locos have state-of-art three phase  AC-AC  Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) based traction system. Moreover, other improvements like dual cab, Air Conditioner  in  loco  cabs,  Auxiliary  Power  Unit  (APU), Hotel  load,  Distributed  Power  Control  System  (DPCS), etc., are provided in locomotives.
- (ii) Electric  Locomotives:  It  has  been  decided  to  produce only new  generation  state-of-art three-phase  electric locomotives in future. These new generation locos save

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1915 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## NEW RAIL COACH AND ENGINE FACTORIES

## † 1915. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  making  efforts  for  improving  rail engines and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  new  rail  coach and engine factories and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

up  to  20%  electricity  consumption  due  to  regenerative braking features.

- (b)   Yes, Madam.

Coach and Diesel Loco: Coach and Engine (Locomotive) manufacturing factories are sanctioned and set up from time to time based on traffic requirements. Presently, the following factories have been sanctioned:

| Type of factory     | Location                                                                |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Coach               | 1. Palakkad, Kerala. 2. Kolar, Karnataka. 3. Kancharapara, West Bengal. |
| Diesel Locomotive   | Marhoura, Bihar.                                                        |
| Electric Locomotive | 1. Madherpura, Bihar. 2. Dankuni, West Bengal.                          |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1914 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Resources for Science
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

- (a) Yes, Madam.

(b) Total Plan allocation of Ministry of Science and Technology for the Financial Years 2013-14, 201415, and 2015-16 was Rs. 5145.00, Rs.5495.00 and Rs.7200.80 crores respectively. Central Plan outlay of Rs. 8100 cr for the Ministry of Science and Technology for 2016-17 has been proposed which is 12.5% higher than the allocation during previous financial year. This will facilitate Ministry of Science and Technology to implement Science & Technology (S&T) programmes aligned with the country's strategic priorities. (c) The  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  improve  science  administration,  quality  of  science education and research in India including creation of new institutions devoted to science education and research such as 'Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER)'. Five such Institutes have already  been  established  at  Kolkata,  Pune,  Mohali,  Bhopal  and  Thiruvananthapuram.  IISERs  aim  to integrate under-graduate, post-graduate and research under one umbrella and to interact with National Laboratories and other research institutes to develop a synchronous environment for research that would transcend  rigid  administrative  structure  and  encourage  inter-disciplinary  research.  Government  has decided to establish two new IISERs in the States of Nagaland and Odisha.

Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  also  supports  various  fellowships  and  S&T  infrastructure improvement  programmes  such  as  Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE); Ramalingaswamy;  JC  Bose;  Ramanujan;  Swarnajayanti;  National  Postdoctoral;  Tata  Innovation Fellowships; Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST); Promotion of University Research for Scientific  excellence  (PURSE);  Boost  to  University  Interdisciplinary  Life  Science  Departments  for Education  and  Research  (BUILDER);  and  Star  College  Programme,  etc.  to  encourage    competitive research. Besides this, a large number of extra-mural R&D projects are supported through a competitive research grant to improve quality and quantity of R&D output of scientific institutions.

- ********

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1914 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9/03/2016

## RESOURCES FOR SCIENCE

## 1914. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  level  of  resources  for  science  to  deploy  in accordance with country's strategic priorities;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the corrective steps taken by the Government to improve science administration, quality of science education and research in India?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ (bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)
Lok Sabha Question No. 1913 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Medical Assistance Team
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1913 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM

1913. SHRI HARISH MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  railways  proposes  to  constitute  a  special  team  at major  railway  stations  to  attend  to  railway  accident  victims  and provide them with emergency medical assistance;
- (b)  if  so,  the  concrete  steps  taken/  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the railways  to  set  up  special  dedicated  medical  team  at  major  railway stations instead of the station master; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)  to  (c):  No,  Madam.  There  is  no  proposal  to  constitute  a  special team  at  all  major  railway  stations  to  attend  to  railway  accident victims. However, Hon'ble High Court at Mumbai had directed Railways to consider the establishment of Emergency Medical Centres at each of those  Mumbai  suburban  stations  where  more than 100  accidents ….2/-

have taken place in the year 2012. Accordingly Indian Railways have setup  Emergency  Medical  Centres  at  14  suburban  stations  (4  on Central Railway and 10 on Western Railway).

For rendering First Aid Services to railway passengers, First Aid Boxes containing essential drugs and dressing materials are provided with the guards of all passenger carrying trains and Station Masters of all Railway stations.  In addition, Augmented First Aid Boxes with wide range  of  medicines,  disposable  medical  material,  etc.  have  been provided  at  model  stations  and  with  the  Train  Superintendents  of Rajdhani/Shatabdi  Express  trains  and  Guards  of  nominated  trains. Front line staffs deployed at stations and on trains are also trained in rendering  First  Aid.    Trains  can  also  make  unscheduled  halts,  if necessary,  at  the  stations  en-route  in  emergencies.    The  Station Masters  of  all  stations  have  details  of  doctors,  clinics  &  hospitals, both  Government  and  Private,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  station,  so  that their  services  could  also  be  availed,  in  emergencies.    Ambulance service of both Railway hospitals and State Governments are utilized when required.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: MoUs for Affordable Housing
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN  POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Asked by: ARKA KESHARI DEO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1912

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 09, 2016

MOUs FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

No.  1912      SHRI ARKA KESHARI DEO:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government  has  signed  any  MoU  with foreign Governments and private companies for providing affordable housing to the poor and lower middle class people of the country; and (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) & (b): No,  Madam.    Land  and  colonisation  are  State  subjects. Projects  are  approved  and  executed  by  States/UTs  through  its  own agencies or private partners for providing affordable housing to slum dwellers and urban poor.  They seek central assistance under Pradhan Mantri  Awas  Yojana-Housing  for  All  (Urban)  Mission  which  envision housing for all by 2022.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Losses Due to Floods
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1910 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## LOSSES DUE TO FLOOD

## 1910.   SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether    various  sections  of  railway  network  in  the  country particularly in Tamil Nadu have suffered severe damages due to heavy rain and floods in the recent north-east monsoon in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, division/section-wise including cancellation  of  trains  and  the  estimated  loss  to  Railways  as  a result thereof;
- (c)        whether  any  steps  were  taken  by  the  Railways  to  repair  the affected  portions  of  tracks,  premises,  compensation  to  the passengers, etc.;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and;
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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. 1910 BY SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.03.2016 REGARDING LOSSES DUE TO FLOODS

(a)  to  (e)  :  Yes,  Madam.  Due  to  heavy  rain  and  floods  in  the  recent north-east  monsoon in  Tamil  Nadu,  several  railway  lines  of  the  railway network were affected. Mainly the following sections were affected:

| Division        | Section                                          |
|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Chennai         | Chennai Central - Arakkonam                      |
|                 | Chennai Central - Gudur                          |
|                 | Chennai Beach - Villupuram                       |
|                 | Chengalpattu - Arakkonam                         |
| Thiruchirapalli | Cuddalore Port Junction - Vriddhachalam Junction |
| Guntakal        | Gudur - Renigunta                                |
|                 | Gooty - Renigunta                                |
| Vijayawada      | Gudur - Vijayawada                               |

A  total  of  632  Mail/Express  trains  were  cancelled  and  51  Mail/Express trains were partially cancelled over Indian Railways due to heavy rains and floods in Tamil Nadu. The situation was continuously monitored by the senior officers of concerned zonal railways. Restoration works at the rain/flood  affected  locations  were  taken  up  and  completed  by  the railways on war-footing basis at an approximate cost of ` 20 crores. Due to cancellation of reserved tickets on account of cancellation of trains, an amount of about ` 50.36 crores was refunded to passengers.

*****