Archives for March 2018

Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh Budget

Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK)

A fund namely ‘Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh’ (RRSK) has been created in 2017-18 with a corpus of Rs.1 lakh crore over a period of five years for critical safety related works. Accordingly, a provision of Rs.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.

Indian Railway Electrification 2018

Electrification of Railway 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 Rs.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.

Implementation of Integrated Security System

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 3328

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2018

Implementation of Integrated Security System

3328 Shri Ajay Sancheti
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether Railways have identified certain stations across the country for implementation of the Integrated Security System;

(b) if so, the details of such stations, State-wise; and

(c) the progress made in this regard, so far, for identified stations in Maharashtra?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. 202 railway stations have been identified as sensitive for the purpose of installation of Integrated Security System (ISS) to strengthen surveillance mechanism at these stations. State-wise position of railway stations identified for installation of ISS is appended.

(c): Jurisdiction of Maharashtra State extends over Central Railway (CR), West Central Railway (WCR) and Western Railway (WR). Zone-wise position of implementation of ISS over identified railway stations of CR, WCR and WR, falling in the State of Maharashtra, is given as under-

CR- Implementation of ISS at 08 stations has nearly completed and installation of ISS at remaining 08 stations is under progress.

WCR- Implementation of ISS at railway station Gondia has been completed.

WR- A total of 1103 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been provided at 30 railway stations between Churchgate to Virar on hiring basis till the implementation of ISS.

New Railway Lines in North East India

Development of New Railway Stations in North Eastern Regional

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 311

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2018

Development of new railway stations in North Eastern States

311 Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether Railways have finalized a new plan to develop new stations involving private players;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the names of such railway stations located in Assam and other North Eastern States that are proposed to be developed;

(c) whether the process of identifying private players has been completed;

(d) if so, the details thereof and by when the work would commence; and

(e) the progress in implementation of work of model railway stations taken up earlier, particularly of the Kamakhya railway station in Assam?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.311 BY SHRI BHUBANESWAR KALITA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 23.03.2018 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RAILWAY STATIONS IN NORTH EASTERN STATES.

(a) & (b): No, Sir. However, in the Union Budget 2018-19 it has been announced that redevelopment of 600 major existing railway stations (including stations located in Assam and other North Eastern States) are being taken up by Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited. All stations with more than 25000 footfalls will have escalators. All railway stations and trains will be progressively provided with wi-fi. CCTVs will be provided at all stations and on trains to enhance security of passengers.

(c) & (d): No, Sir. Station redevelopment projects are complex in nature and require detailed techno-economic feasibility studies and statutory clearances from local bodies. Therefore, no time-frame for implementation of the project can be given at this stage.

(e): ‘Model’ Station Scheme was in vogue from June 1999 to November, 2008. All the Railway stations identified for development under this scheme, including Kamakhya Railway station in the State of Assam, have been developed under the scheme.
Presently, development of Railway stations is taken up under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme. Under this scheme, 1253 stations have been identified for development. Out of these, 1050 Railway stations have been developed as per norms. Kamakhya Railway Station has not been identified for development under this scheme. However, Kamakhya Railway Station has also been developed under ‘Modern’ Station Scheme which was in vogue from 2006-07 to 2007-08.