Lok Sabha Question No. 4013 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: New Trains in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4013 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

NEW TRAINS IN WEST BENGAL

4013. SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of new trains introduced in West Bengal during the last three years, year-wise;
- (b) the amount of fund allocated for development of Railway network in West Bengal during the last three years;
- (c)  whether the Railways has conducted any survey on the problems being faced by the passengers owing to shortage of trains in West Bengal; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4013 BY SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.08.2016 REGARDING NEW TRAINS IN WEST BENGAL.

- (a)  Indian  Railways  do  not  runs  trains  on  State-wise  basis  as  rail network  run  across  State  boundaries.  The  details  of  train  services (originating/terminating basis) introduced during the last three years serving the stations in the State of West Bengal are as under:
- (b)  The  Accounting  and  Budgeting  Units  of  Indian  Railways  are  the Railway zones and Production Units. The Railway Budget is, therefore, prepared  Railway  zone  wise  and  not  State-wise.  The  figures  of allotments for States are therefore not maintained. Hence  the information about fund allocated for development of railway network in West Bengal during the last three years cannot be segregated.

| Year    |   No. of trains (in single) |
|---------|-----------------------------|
| 2013-14 |                          50 |
| 2014-15 |                          22 |
| 2015-16 |                          30 |

However,  since  the  State  of  West  Bengal  primarily  falls  under the areas being served by Eastern, Northeast Frontier, South Eastern and  Metro  Railways,  the  gross  allocation  made  to  these  Railways under Demand No. 16-Assets-Acquisition, Construction & Replacement in the revised estimates during the last three years for development of railway network and other Plan activities is given in the following table-

(` ` in crores.)

| Railways               |   Revised Estimates 2013-14 |   Revised Estimates 2014-15 |   Revised Estimates 2015-16 |
|------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Eastern                |                     5785.99 |                     5093.11 |                     5413.21 |
| Northeast Frontier     |                     5826.23 |                     8301.03 |                     7987.24 |
| South Eastern          |                     4470.22 |                     2997.61 |                     3579.01 |
| Metro Railway/ Kolkata |                      531.21 |                      537.61 |                      623.25 |

- (c)  &  (d)  Indian  Railways  do  not  conduct  surveys  on  State-wise  basis. However, Indian Railways continuously strive to improve passenger traffic by various  measures  like  introduction  of  new  trains,  enhancement  of  the composition  of  more  popular  trains,  attachment  of  extra  coaches  in  the existing trains etc. Also, special trains are run during peak seasons, festivals and  special  events,  keeping  in  view  the  pattern  of  traffic,  commercial justification, operational feasibility, availability of resources etc. Running of special trains keeping in view the demand on various sectors is a continuous process.

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