Matching Fragments
Madam, I would like to bring to the kind attention of this august House for its information that the route kilometre of the Railways was 53,596 kilometres in the year 1950. After a span of 58 years, we have now reached only 64,015 kilometres, adding just 10,419 kilometres, an annual average of only 180 kilometres. Looking at the world, you will find that both developed and developing nations are spending hundreds and billions of dollars each year, adding more and more route kilometres of the new lines. That is why we have to move faster.
Ever Since independence, it is a fact, Madam Speaker, that the population has increased; so has the economy grown. However, the acute needs of the common people for proper infrastructure, particularly rail infrastructure, have remained unfulfilled. That is why we are going to innovative financing which we have strongly pursued for the last six months. Yes, we need connectivity for industries, courts, tourist centres, universities, religious places, coal mines and other places. But with the limited funds available, we cannot meet all the demands.
That is why our target is to add 25,000 kms of new lines in the next ten years, as outlines in Vision 2020. This has to be achieved by breaking the shackles of constraints. We have to make a beginning.
The time has come for the business community also to come and join hands to build partnerships with the Railways. Sometimes, they have some problems also. They are keen to invest, but their proposals are unduly delayed by a `typical negative approach’. Please pardon me for saying so. But it is a fact that administrative and procedural delays, external and internal, do take place discouraging prospective investors. We need to overcome this situation. I believe a business model needs to be developed. I have decided to set up a special task force. I will discuss with the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Finance Ministry and Planning Commission regarding early clearance of projects. I have decided to set up a special task force to clear proposals for investment within 100 days. Our policy guidelines will be made easy, simple and investment-friendly. In creating infrastructure with private capital we will create wealth for all, and we will be benchmarked with the best.
Madam, I would like to inform that Railways is taking this issue seriously. Railways’ core competence is operation and management. There are 14 lakh employees and we are proud of them. I can assure the House that we are not going to privatise our railway department because it will remain with the Government. However, no business models have been developed within the railways for commercial utilisation of land, air space and other assets and leveraging our services to generate revenues. The need of the hour is to develop new business models and invite domestic investment through PPP mode in areas like new lines to world class stations, auto hub to ancillary industries, manufacturing units of rolling stock to multi-model logistic parks, high speed train corridors to port connectivity and multi-level parking to mine connectivity also. Domestic investors and others have tremendous scope in railways and that will be our hope in the future. It will facilitate the large quantum of investment in Railways and provide ready business to investors. Therefore, it will be a win-win option for all.
A separate structure will be created within the railways for implementation of the business models so that operations and management is not disbursed. I will take care of both the parts and I would like to request the hon. Prime Minister in this matter. At this point, again, I am saying, we involve our railway employees unions and the officers unions, SC-ST and OBC unions, and all together we are working. It will remain with the Government organisation and we are not going to privatise. But, at the same time, to earn the revenue, we must set up a business model. अभी तो शुरूआत है, सफर हमारा बहुत लंबा है। This is just the beginning. A long and pleasant journey lies ahead.
Madam, the Budget proposals will bring out our seriousness. In line with your vision for the first time ever, we are planning a major jump to complete 1,000 route kilometres of new lines in one year with our limited resources. Madam, this is a path-breaking step considering the annual average of 180 route kilometres of new lines in the last 58 years and 219 kilometres in the last five years. If we can achieve this target of 1,000 route kilometres, what I mentioned here in the list, we can also reach the vision 2020 goal of 25,000 route kilometres. I appeal to the hon. Members for full support in this regard. Standing here, I am raising the voice of the people. If it is not heard, we cannot achieve our dream of inclusive growth and a developed India.
I had presented the last Railway Budget on 3rd July, 2009 and had made several announcements. Our commitments have been fulfilled to the maximum in a span of only seven months. I would briefly mention a few.
Madam, this House will be glad to know that out of 120 new trains, within this financial year, namely, 31st March, 2010 117 trains will be flagged off and only three trains will be left out because of the gauge conversion. When the gauge conversion will be completed, then 100 per cent according to our commitment, we will flag off the new trains - whatever I announced in my Budget Speech within the seven months.
Madam, as I assured the recruitment policy of the Indian Railways, RRB has been reviewed. We have decided that the language especially English, Hindi, Urdu and local language will be used for the examination also. As far as examination fee is concerned, I would like to say one thing. Sometimes, the people are very poor, unemployment is increasing and they cannot even submit their fees also. So, for the minorities, women, and the economic backward classes, the Railway decided that in case of those whose income is less than Rs. 50,000/- a year, we will withdraw the examination fees so that they should get more and more opportunities. The examination for a particular post will be held on the same day simultaneously by all RRBs to give more importance to all local brothers and sisters.
Madam, what we announced in the Izzat Scheme, it is being done. Concessions to press correspondents have been done and extension of students’ concessions to madrasas, higher madrasas and senior madrasas were also implemented. The artists’ concession is also implemented.
Madam, work has been initiated in all the 67 Multi-functional complexes (MFCs). The tender process sometimes takes three to six months. It has also started. Development of Adarsh Stations and other world class stations also, our process is on within this Budget year and will be do it in within a time frame network.
There is only one area left out, namely, Post Office. There are some financial problems in that. That is why we started our Mushkil Aasaan programme. So, to compensate that, we will give more and more importance to Mushkil Aasaan programme. We have decided that Mushkil Aasaan programme should be connected to universities, the High Courts, the Supreme Court, the panchayats and even the important areas so that it can reach at the grass-root level and the people can get the facilities also.
Madam, we have increased the financial powers of field officers because we want to give more importance to passenger amenities. Sometimes, if they come to Delhi, it takes time. So, we have increased the financial power at the local level, General Manager to DRM so that they can do the work quickly.
Madam, this time the Railways are projected to spend a record of Rs. 1,302 crore in 2010-11 for passenger amenities. It is more than Rs. 400 crore and above. I will let you know the detailed figures later on.
We are going in for a special drive for improving passenger amenities and cleanliness. This will be our special drive because I know the people are facing the problem and passengers are also facing the problem.
We have already introduced Janata Ahar. Even Janata Luchi, Aloo Dum which is liked by the people is available at Rs. 10/-only. We have started that also. We are providing economically priced food in many stations. Since we have received several complaints, we have decided to provide catering departmentally, phase by phase, in selected trains also. The catering policy is under revision and we will do it within a short time.
As far as upgradation of stations is concerned, again, we have taken 94 stations. If hon. MPs have suggestions for other stations, I will include that. If you have any suggestion, you can give it to me. There will not be any problem in this regard. Whatever suggestions I have received, I have included them.
Keeping in view our continued focus to enhance passenger comforts,
facilities, ambience and aesthetics, the following 94 stations have been further
declaredas Adarsh Stations:
Madam, Government is giving priority in providing rail connections to
the neighbouring countries. Surveys for the five new lines have been
conducted for rail connectivity with Nepal. Out of these lines, it is proposed to
take up new line from Jogbani to Biratnagar and gauge conversion of Jayanagar
to Bijalpura with extension to Bardibas.
Gauge Conversion
The sections which have either been completed or will be completed
during 2009-10 are:
i. Pandharpur – Miraj of Miraj - Latur
ii. Ajmer – Phulera of Ajmer – Phulera – Rewari
iii. Cuddalore – Sirkazhi of Thanjavur – Villupuram
iv. Shimoga – Anandpuram of Shimoga – Talguppa
v. Saharsa – Dauram Madhepura of Mansi – Saharsa – Purnea
vi. Mathura – Achnera
vii. Fakiragaram – Dhubri
viii. Haibargaon – Mairabari
ix. Sadulpur – Ratangarh – Degana
x. Balaghat – Katangi of Jabalpur – Gondia, Balaghat – Katangi
xi. Madanapalle – Dharmavaram of Dharmavaram – Pakala
xii. Vellore – Villupuram
xiii. Podanur-Coimbatore
xiv. Quilon – Punalur of Quilon – Tiruchchendur and Tenkasi –
Virudunagar
xv. Baripada – Bangriposi of Rupsa – Bangriposi
xvi. Dabhoi –Bodeli of Pratapnagar – Chota Udepur
xvii. Wansjaliya – Jetalsar
xviii. Surendranagar – Dhrangadhra
xix. Bhildi – Samdari
… (Interruptions)
So many things I have given which is more than last time. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Guru Rabindranath Tagore, we will run a special train which is done with the kind consent of our hon. Prime Minister, and External Affairs Ministry. We took up the matter with Bangladesh also. Hasinaji also came; we discussed. Shri Rabindranath Tagore is the only poet who wrote two National Anthems. One is for Bangladesh, that is ‘Amar Shonar Bangla’ and second is for India that is ‘Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He’. That is why, to commemorate his birth festival of 150 years, we propose to run a special train from Epar Bangla to Opar Bangla means Indo-Bangladesh train.
There will be 700 kilometres of doubling and 800 kilometres of gauge conversion. Chidambaram ji told me to read it, but I do not think it will be proper to read because they will shout.}
My voice is not reaching up to the mike. So, I think, they will see it.
Madam, I have also received some projects from the Andhra Pradesh Government for cost sharing, and we will look into that also. … (Interruptions)
Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Governments have also given the projects. … (Interruptions)
Madam, target of 800 km has been fixed for Gauge Conversion in 2010-11 including the following sections:
i. Barddhaman – Balgona of Barddhaman – Katwa
ii. Krishnanagar – Santipur
iii. Tirunelveli – Tenkasi of Quilon - Tiruchendur and Tenkasi –
Virudunagar
iv. Mayiladuturai – Thiruvarur of Mayiladuturai – Karaikkudi
v. Bharuch – Samni – Dahej
vi. Aluabari – Siliguri
vii. Dindigul – Palani of Dindigul – Pollachi - Palakkad
viii. Anandpuram – Talguppa of Shimoga – Talguppa
ix. Chintamani – Chikballapur of Kolar – Chikballapur
x. Kaptanganj – Thawe of Kaptanganj – Thawe – Chhapra
xi. Ratangarh – Bikaner of Sadulpur – Bikaner
xii. Mavli – Nathdwara
xiii. Katihar-Tejnarayanpur
xiv. Sitamarhi-Bairgania of Jaynagar-Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj
xv. Bodeli-Chotta Udepur of Pratapnagar-Chotta Udepur
The following new gauge conversion works are proposed to be taken up:
i. Chhindwara-Nainpur-Mandla Fort
ii. Gwalior-Sheopurkalan with extension to Kota
iii. Dholpur-Sirmutra with extension to Gangapur City.
i. Chittaranjan-Kolkata Passenger
ii. Sealdah-Krishnanagar Passenger
iii. Haldibari-New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri Passenger
iv. Balaghat-Katangi Passenger
v. Tatanagar-Hatia Passenger via Chandil-Purulia-Muri
vi. Miraj-Parli Passenger
vii. Miraj-Pandharpur Passenger
viii. Jhansi-Banda Passenger
ix. New Jalpaiguri-Dinahat-Bamanhat Passenger
x. Nilambur Road-Shoranur Passenger
xi. Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli Passenger
xii. Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur Passenger
xiii. Bhubaneswar-Khurda Road Passenger
xiv. Bangalore-Neelamangala Passenger
xv. Bagalkot – Gadag Passenger
xvi. Kozhikode- Kannur Passenger
xvii. Dharmanagar-Manu Passenger
xviii. Patna – Sasaram via Ara Passenger. I dedicate it to Babu Jagjiwan Ramji, Madam. to be extended to Bhabua Road upon development of terminal facilities.
xix. Coimbatore-Pollachi Passenger(after gauge conversion)
xx. Aunrihar -Jaunpur Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxi. Bareilly-Lalkuan Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxii. Katihar-Teznarayanpur Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxiii. Fakiragram-Dhubri Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxiv. Rewari-Degana Passenger via Ratangarh (after gauge conversion)
xxv. Bhildi-Samdari Passenger(after gauge conversion)
xxvi. Naupada-Gunupur Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxvii. Hospet- Harihar Passenger (after gauge conversion)
xxviii. Tirupati-Madanpalle Road - Kurabakota Passenger (after gauge
conversion)
MEMUs
i. Tirupati-Nellore-Chennai
ii. Salem-Katpadi
iii. Vijaywada-Guntur-Tenali
iv. Coimbatore-Erode
v Howrah-Midnapur {… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr. Bwiswmuthiary, please go back to your seat.
… (Interruptions) }
KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE: vi. Dhanbad- Jhargram via Purulia
v. Dhanbad-Jhargram via Purulia
vi. Ghatsila –Howrah
vii. Ernakulam-Kollam
viii. Restoration of Andal-Jasidih via Jamuria-Barbani
DEMU Service
