Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:56 IST
Electrification of Rialway Network
Ministry of Railways have decided to electrify balance 38000 Broad Gauge (BG) Route Kilometer (RKM) for achieving 100% electrification.
Year wise details of balance BG rail routes planned for electrification are as under:
Year
Route Kilometer planned for electrification.
2017-18
4000
2018-19
6000
2019-20
7000
2020-21
10500
2021-22
10500
Total
38000
Out of balance 38000 Broad Gauge (BG) Route Kilometer for 100% electrification, un-sanctioned work of 13675 RKM has been included in Budget 2018-19, which will be taken up for execution subject to statutory and mandatory approvals. The expenditure of ` 32591 crore is planned for commissioning of 38000 Route Kilometers of sections on electric traction.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:56 IST
Operational Cost of Railways
It has been a continuous endeavor on part of the Railways to control its Working Expenses of which operational cost of Railways is also a part. As a result of various measures taken in this regard, the Railways have been able to substantially control the growth of Ordinary Working Expenses. The Ordinary Working Expenses in 2016-17 and 2017-18 grew only by about 10% despite being the years of implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations as against about 30% on the earlier occasion.
The steps taken by the Ministry to reduce the operational cost of Railways are as under:
- Railways are given spending limits lower than the sanctioned budget. They are also repeatedly instructed to effect savings in revenue expenditure to compensate for unavoidable post-budgetary increases such as revision of diesel prices, hike in power tariff, increase in rates of certain allowances/incentive bonus etc. The expenditure is monitored strictly according to the spending limits through monthly financial reviews.
- Tight control over expenditure in areas such as fuel/power consumption, contractual payments, purchase of materials etc is maintained.
- Energy audit of major load centres, effecting savings in electricity bills due to purchase of power by railways as “distribution licensee”
- Prioritization of expenditure on works/activities for better use of available resources.
- Improvement in Manpower productivity.
- Improvement in asset utilization by taking innovative measures and best practices available.
- Improvement in inventory management.
- Reducing the cost of operation and maintenance of rolling stock.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:54 IST
Step Taken to Improve Passenger Amenitites in Railways
Improvement to Passenger amenities on Indian Railways is a continuous process. With a view to meet the expectations of the passengers, Indian Railways is making all out effort to provide improved facilities at the stations including those located in small cities/towns.
Indian Railways has more than 8500 Stations. It has always been the endeavour of the Railways to provide adequate amenities to the passengers at stations. Certain amenities are provided at the time of construction of new stations based on anticipated volume of traffic. Amenities are further augmented from time to time with growth in passenger traffic handled at stations, based on the felt need, expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds.
In the recent past Indian Railways has taken various steps to improve the services and facilitate the passengers, some of which are given below:-
At stations:
I. Lifts and Escalators at the stations for facilitating movement across platforms.
II. Battery Operated Vehicles for carrying passengers before/after the train journey, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
III. Yatri Mitra Sewa for passengers requiring wheel-chair assistance.
IV. Well appointed Retiring Rooms, Waiting Halls and Executive Lounges to relax for passengers during transit.
V. Wi-fi facility at 127 important stations on IR.
In Reservations and travel:
I. Introduction of the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as ‘VIKALP’ to give option to waitlisted passengers to shift to alternate train having vacant accommodation.
II. Provision of facility to physically handicapped persons to book reserved tickets online.
III. Introduction of paperless unreserved ticket booking through mobile phone.
IV. Automatic refund of confirmed/ Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC)/e-tickets on cancellation of trains.
V. Enhancement of Senior Citizen Quota as well as quota earmarked for physically handicapped persons.
VI. Making provision in the system for automatic preparation of reservation charts at least four hours before the scheduled departure of train.
VII. Provision of facility to book available accommodation after preparation of first reservation chart through internet as well as across any computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter upto preparation of second reservation chart.
VIII. Acceptance of all International Credit/Debit cards for booking of e-tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) website.
IX. The passengers having confirmed/RAC/Waitlisted PRS counter tickets may cancel the same through IRCTC website (
www.irctc.co.in) or through 139 within the prescribed time limit and the refund amount maybe collected across PRS counter on surrendering the original ticket.
X. In order to facilitate cancellation of PRS counter tickets at relatively smaller stations, one of the Unreserved Ticketing System( UTS) cum PRS counters (wherever PRS booking facility is available) has been earmarked for granting refund beyond the working hours of PRS counters/Current counters. This facility is available in respect of PRS counter tickets for those trains whose scheduled departure time is within the next 24 hours.
XI. Establishment of Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendras for issuing of tickets through public private partnership for establishment and operation of computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS)-cum Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) terminals.
XII. Facility for booking unreserved ticket including platforms tickets and Season Tickets through mobile phone in the 6 suburban sections of IR in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Secunderabad and in Delhi – Palwal and Delhi-Ghaziabad sections of Northern Railway
XIII. Commencement of concierge services with facility for online booking of wheelchairs through IRCTC website at New Delhi and 22 other stations.
XIV. Provision of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines to facilitate purchase of unreserved journey tickets.
XV. Extension of e-ticketing facility to foreign debit/credit cards for foreign tourists and NRIs.
XVI. Commissioning of online booking of retiring room at over 488 Railway stations.
Modernisation/ upgradation of passenger amenities at railway station in Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process. At present, upgradation of station is being undertaken under Adarsh Station scheme. 201 stations including 8 stations in Bilaspur zone (South East Central Railway - out of which 4 stations fall under Chhattisgarh), have been identified under this Scheme during the last three years and current year.
Regular inspections are conducSted by Officers, Service Improvement Group (SIG), Passenger Amenities Committee (PAC) & Passenger Services Committee (PSC) to monitor the availability and maintenance of passenger facilities at stations and remedial measures are taken as and when deficiencies are noted.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:53 IST
Maintenance of Old Tracks
At the time of independence, 60,116 track km were available in the country. After independence of the country, 61,291 track km has been further added making it cumulative 1, 21,407 track km.
Railway tracks are replaced through Track Renewal Works, which is an ongoing process. Track Renewal Works are undertaken as and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal on the basis of criteria laid down in Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual on age/condition basis viz. traffic carried in terms of gross million tones, incidence of rail fracture/failure, wear of rails, corrosion of rails, maintainability of track as per standards, etc.
There is no track in unsafe condition in the country. Renewal of track is an ongoing process. If any stretch of track is not renewed in time due to various reasons, suitable speed restrictions, if required, are imposed to ensure safe running of trains. Temporary speed restrictions (TSRs) are imposed for short duration to carry out planned track renewals works, emergent works etc. These TSRs are removed once work is completed.
For the year 2017-18, a target of 3600 km of Track Renewal in CTR units has been kept against which progress of 3493 km of track renewal has been achieved upto February, 2018. Track renewal target for 2018-19 has been kept as 3900 km in Complete Track Renewal (CTR) units (One km of Through Rail Renewal is counted as 0.5 km CTR units and one km of Through Sleeper Renewal is counted as 0.5 km CTR units).
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:53 IST
Promotion of Tourism in Railways
Indian Railways, in addition to regular passenger trains across its network, in association with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and select State Tourism Development Corporations, operates special tourist trains like Luxury tourist trains, Buddhist special trains, Semi-luxury trains, Bharat Darshan trains, Aastha Circuits trains, State Special Tourists trains, Steam train, Charter trains etc. connecting various tourist places across the country.
IRCTC has operated State Special Tourist Trains, Bharat Darshan Trains and Rail Tour packages to pilgrim destinations like Guruvayur, Tirupati and Sabarimala from various cities across the country.
Besides, operation of additional train services for tourist to connect various destinations including pilgrim places Guruvayur, Tirupati and Sabrimala is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, availability of resources, competing demands etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:52 IST
Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossings
It has been decided to eliminate all Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route in next 2 years by either of the following methods:-
- Closure – Closing unmanned level crossings having NIL/ negligible Train Vehicle Unit (TVU).
- Merger – Merger of unmanned level crossing to nearby manned or unmanned gates or subway/Road Under Bridge (RUB)/Road Over Bridge (ROB) by construction of diversion road.
- Provision of Subways/RUBs.
- Manning – The unmanned level crossings which cannot be eliminated by above means will be progressively manned based on rail-road traffic volume, visibility conditions.
During the last 3 years and the current year (upto Feb.2018), 5156 UMLCs have been eliminated out of which 1986 were manned and 3170 were closed by closure/merger/subway.
Zone-wise data of UMLCs eliminated during the last three years and the current year (upto Feb.18) is as follows:
SN
Zonal Railway
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2017-18 (upto Feb’18)
Total
1
Central Railway
49
43
17
All UMLCs eliminated
109
2
Eastern Railway
56
51
61
4
172
3
East Central Railway
28
20
42
26
116
4
East Coast Railway
98
159
128
53
438
5
Northern Railway
163
98
150
176
587
6
North Central Railway
26
19
70
54
169
7
North Eastern Railway
62
139
126
70
397
8
Northeast Frontier Railway
43
79
123
70
315
9
North Western Railway
64
94
124
168
450
10
Southern Railway
86
98
119
114
417
11
South Central Railway
119
68
149
89
425
12
South Eastern Railway
78
120
190
186
574
13
South East Central Railway
39
56
43
13
151
14
South Western Railway
56
100
65
52
273
15
Western Railway
101
71
96
177
445
16
West Central Railway
80
38
All UMLCs eliminated
All UMLCs eliminated
118
Total
1148
1253
1503
1252
5156
Zone-wise details of funds allocated for Plan Head 29 and Plan Head 30 regarding ROBs, RUBs and LCs during the last three years (2015-18) is as follows:
(in ₹ Crore)
SN
Zonal Railway
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
1
Central Railway
101.51
139.00
165.07
2
Eastern Railway
66.34
90.37
105.37
3
East Central Railway
70.68
109.60
130.97
4
East Coast Railway
116.73
203.47
255.52
5
Northern Railway
277.61
475.45
584.94
6
North Central Railway
271.67
414.60
488.80
7
North Eastern Railway
83.40
161.99
180.32
8
Northeast Frontier Railway
146.13
166.73
194.89
9
North Western Railway
261.09
271.61
485.77
10
Southern Railway
314.99
409.50
503.63
11
South Central Railway
213.64
262.54
316.87
12
South Eastern Railway
65.50
179.58
287.34
13
South East Central Railway
138.45
192.15
218.85
14
South Western Railway
169.01
185.37
209.33
15
Western Railway
165.17
307.33
340.71
16
West Central Railway
200.08
176.18
206.62
Total
2662.00
3745.47
4675.00
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:51 IST
Budgettary Allocation for Safety & Measures for Safety of Trains
The outlay made and expenditure incurred on safety related activities during the last three years and the current year is as under –
(₹in cr)
Revised Estimates
Actual Expenditure
2014-15
44842
43113
2015-16
46048
45516
2016-17
63062
53456
2017-18
68725
51973
(upto end of Feb.2018)
The number of consequential train accidents (including accidents at Unmanned Level Crossings mainly caused due to negligence of road vehicle users) have decreased from 135 in 2014-15, to 107 in 2015-16 and further to 104 in 2016-17. In the current year (upto 15th March, 2018) the number of consequential train accidents have further reduced to 71 as compared to 101 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety. These include timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and safety inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices. Preventive and predictive maintenance of the Railway assets is undertaken to ensure safe train operation. Safety devices/systems being used to prevent accidents include Electronic Interlocking, Track Circuiting, provision of Block Proving Axle Counters, Colour Light LED Signals, Train Protection & Warning System, Vigilance Control Device, Fog Pass Device, usage of 52 kg/60 kg, 90 or higher UTS rails and Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers, use of Ultrasonic Flaw Detection of rails and welds at predefined periodicity to detect internal flaws in rails/welds. Electronic monitoring of track geometry is carried out to detect defects and plan maintenance. Steel Channel Sleepers on girder bridges are being used while carrying out primary track renewals.
Further, it has been decided to lay Thick Webs Switches, Weldable Cast Manganese Steel crossings on identified routes. Progressive use of Linke Hofmann Busch Coaches, use of Centre Buffer Couplers with Integral Coach Factory Coaches, etc. Railway tracks are replaced on age cum condition basis through track renewal works which is an ongoing process. Other measures include training of loco pilots and other safety category staff, improvement of their working conditions including proper rest and periodic medical examination etc. Besides, patrolling of tracks, footplate inspections and safety reviews at various levels, etc. are regularly conducted to continuously monitor and improve safety aspects of the Indian Railways.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:51 IST
Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK)
A fund namely ‘Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh’ (RRSK) has been created in 2017-18 with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore over a period of five years for critical safety related works. Accordingly, a provision of ₹20,000 crore has been made in Budget Estimates and Revised Estimate, 2017-2018 out of ‘Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh’ to fund essential works for ensuring safety.
The details of works to be executed through Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) have been summarized as under: –
Summary of RRSK works identified
(1)
Civil Engineering Works
(including Track works, Bridge rehabilitation, Vehicular ultrasound testing system for rail/welds, broken rail detection system, adoption of flash butt welds & weld quality improvement etc)
(2)
Safety works at Level Crossings
(including elimination of LC/ROB/RUB/Subways etc)
(3)
S&T Works
(including Train Protection & Warning System, Train Collision Avoidance System, up-gradation of standard of interlocking, replacement of overaged signalling gears by electrical/electronic interlocking etc)
(4)
Mechanical Engineering
(including Freight Design & Maintenance, Coach Design & Maintenance, Diesel Locomotive maintenance, Crew Management and Disaster management)
(5)
Electrical Engineering
(Replacement of overaged traction distribution assets, conversion of unregulated OHE to regulated OHE, replacement of masts/portals, replacement of transformers, cables,earthing, panels, wiring etc)
(6)
Human Resource Development
The above works of asset replacement are targeted for liquidation in a period of five years. Outlay of the ₹20,000 crore has been allocated in Budget Estimates 2018-19 also.
Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis including upgradation of technology to aid safe running of trains. These include replacement of over-aged assets, elimination of unmanned level crossings, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
As a safety culture a well established safety management systems is existing which identifies Safety hazards and unsafe practices in the railway operation so that corrective action can be initiated much before occurrence of a disaster. Instructions have been issued from time to time to inculcate safety habits amongst all railway employees.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Railways
28-March, 2018 18:50 IST
Facilities and Sanitation in Railways
In its endeavour to provide quality and hygienic food to the passengers, Railways have developed and operationalized an institutionalized mechanism for monitoring of quality and hygiene of catering services through regular inspections at various levels so as to address catering complaints.
Improvement in maintenance and cleanliness of train coaches is a continuous endeavor of the Indian Railways (IR).
(1) Some of the policy decisions taken in this regard are:
(i) Provision of dustbins in Non-AC coaches.
(ii) Provision of mugs with chain in Non-AC coaches.
(iii) Provision of Health Faucets in AC as well as Non-AC Sleeper class coaches.
(iv) Cleaning of coaches of trains at both ends including mechanized cleaning.
(v) On Board House Keeping Service (OBHS) has been provided in nearly 980 trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and other important long distance Mail/Express trains for cleaning of coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger compartments during the run of the trains.
(vi) On demand ‘Clean My Coach’ service is provided on demand in nearly 970 important Superfast / Mail/Express long distance trains having OBHS.
(vii) By expanding the scope of ‘Clean My Coach’ / Coach Mitra’ Service has been provided in nearly 800 OBHS trains as a single window interface to register all coach related requirements of passengers travelling in reserved coaches, such as cleaning, disinfection, linen, train lighting, air conditioning and watering of coaches.
(viii) Clean Train Station (CTS) scheme has also been prescribed for limited mechanized cleaning attention to identified trains including cleaning of toilets during their scheduled stoppages enroute at nominated stations.
(ix) Washing of bed linen (except blanket) provided for AC passengers is done after every single use. Blankets were being cleaned at least once in two months. Prescribed washing frequency of blankets has been recently increased to minimum once in a month. To improve the quality of washing of bed linen, 59 mechanized laundries have been set up in the railways, covering nearly 65% of linen washing requirement. Most of the remaining linen is also washed in outside mechanized laundries through contracts.
(2) IR is improving the interior of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches. New interiors with more pleasing colours, aesthetically designed fittings, panelling, improved toilets, etc. are being provided in the existing coaches by refurbishing them during Mid Life Rehabilitation (MLR). Work in 700 such Model rake coaches is being progressively carried out. Out of these, more than 100 Model rake coaches have already been turned out.
(3) Various premium services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, which have improved passenger amenities, have also been introduced in service.
(4) IR has launched Project Swarn with the objective of significantly improving the passenger experience. In total, 14 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi trains will be covered.
(5) For the assistance of visually impaired travellers, Integrated Braille signage, i.e signage superimposed with Braille scripts, are being provided in the newly manufactured coaches of IR. Retrofitment of the same in existing coaches has also been taken up in a phased manner.
Railway officials carry out regular inspections and surprise checks to ensure proper maintenance and cleanliness of trains. Detailed instructions/guidelines have been issued to the Zonal Railways for conducting joint inspections by Medical, Commercial and concerned infrastructure maintenance departments to inspect each and every catering unit (mobile and static) including base kitchens/cell kitchens on all Railway divisions/zones. Apart from this, regular and surprise inspections are done by Food Safety Officers, Designated officers and Joint Food Safety Commissioners. During the period 01.04.2017 to 31.01.2018, 40112 inspections have been carried out by various railway officials.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in
a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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