Archives for July 2018

Milavittan is a Non Suburban Grade – E category station in Madurai Division of Southern Railway

Development of Meelavittan railway station

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 1269

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

Development of Meelavittan railway station

1269 Smt. Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether Government proposes to develop Meelavittan railway station in Tuticorin district with various measures for passenger amenities;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether any proposal is pending with Government to introduce “Double-Decker” train between Tuticorin and Chennai Egmore; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Milavittan is a Non Suburban Grade (NSG)-6 (earlier “E”) category station in Madurai Division of Southern Railway dealing with 103 passengers on an average per day. All minimum essential amenities (except Platform Shelter) have been provided at this station as per norms. However, upgradation of station is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon need, volume of the passenger traffic and inter-se priority subject to availability of funds.

(d): No, Sir.

(e): Does not arise.

Freight traffic throughout the country is lower as compared to our neighboring country China

Low freight traffic in comparison to China

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 1257

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

Low freight traffic in comparison to China

1257 Dr. Vikas Mahatme
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) the reasons why the freight traffic throughout the country is lower as compared to our neighbouring country China;

(b) the measures undertaken by Railways to modernise the rolling stock, tracks and signalling system; and

(c) the specific steps being contemplated by Railways to increase the speed of freight trains for fast movement of freight traffic?

ANSWER

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

(a): Freight throughput on any rail system depends upon the size of the network, location of mines, ports, industries and the level of economic activities. Indian Railways does not possess accurate data of the Chinese Railways for making objective comparisons.

(b): The measures undertaken to modernize the rolling stock, tracks and signaling are as under :

(i) Improvement in freight rolling stock design is a continuous activity where measures for improving the efficiency of transportation and higher throughput are being taken as a continuous process.

(ii) Laying of modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails on Pre-stressed Reinforced concrete (PSC) sleepers with 1660 sleepers per km at the time of renewals, laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Almino Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding, maintenance of track with the help of track machines, Ultrasonic testing of rails to detect flaws, etc.

(iii) A work for modernization of complete Signaling system on Indian Railways has been included in the works programme 2018-19 for implementation on complete 60,000 Route Kilometers (RKMs) on Broad Gauge (BG) network of Indian Railways subject to expenditure on this project to be made only after following due processes/mandatory approvals and sanctions.

(c): With a view to increasing speed of trains in Indian Railways, “Mission Raftaar” has been announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17. The mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains in next 5 years.

Action Plan for improving mobility and increasing average speed of freight trains includes right powering of freight trains, introduction of twin-pipe in wagons, reduction in speed restrictions, construction of road over bridges (ROBs) and road under bridges (RUBs) etc.

Vacancies in Indian Railways 2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 1249

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

Vacancies in Railways

1249 Shri Harivansh

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that a large number of posts are lying vacant in Railways;

(b) if so, the total number of the posts lying vacant, as on date; and

(c) by when these vacant posts would be filled up?

ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Arising and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process in the Railways. The policy of the Government is to fill up the vacancies as per operational requirement. Currently, there are about 17% vacancies in non-gazetted cadre.

Two employment notifications have recently been issued to fill up 89,409 vacancies. These include 26,502 vacancies of Assistant Loco Pilots & Technicians and 62,907 vacancies of various Level-1 (erstwhile Group ‘D’) posts.