229 Rly. Budget, 1991-92... SHAVANA 5. 1913 (SAKA) D an . fo r Grant* 230 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

heavy industries like SPIC. There particular and Maharashtra in gene­ are many export houses and one ral. heavy water plant there. The Vagai- kulam Airport, whose construction is Kolhapur has got historical impor­ nearly over, and is solely constructed tance followed by its predominance for Tuticorin and suburban public is in agriculture and industry. Its rail­ yet to being inaugurated. I request the way station is one of the oldest sta­ Central Government to name the air­ tions in India and centenary celebra­ port after the late Chief Minister, tions had already been observed. The M.G.R. as M.G.R. Airport and ar­ Kolhapur railway station requires range for its inauguration immediate­ many improvements. Firstly, ade­ ly, with air linking of Tuticorin with quate staff should be provided to Bangalore, Madras and Trivandrum, this station. Secondly, new Platform to make the air services economically no. 3 needs shed. It should be cover­ also viable. ed, provided. The Railways have spent about Rs. 11 to 12 lakhs on (vii) Need to set up Doordarshan and railway dispensary building at Kolha­ Akashwani centres in Santhai Par­ pur. It is covered by a nice com­ gana, Bihar pound. It is a beautiful building. But unfortunately, since the opening of the [T ramkttiort] building, it is closed. For the last SHRI SURAJ MANDAL (Godda): three or four years, no staff has been Mr. Speaker, Sir, the population of provided ' to this dispensary. The Santhal Pargana in Bihar has reached Medical Officer and staff comes from 40 lakhs. Sixty per cent of its total Miraj to Kolhapur twice a week and population belongs to Scheduled treat the patients. And four hun­ Tribes. However, no Akashwani and dred railway families are staying Doordarshan Centres have been set there. During the emergency they up there, so far. have to run to Civil Hospital, Kolha­ pur and nractieally this dispensary is Therefore,. 1 would like to request closed. So, I still do not know as the Government to set up Doordar­ to why so much amount is spent on shan and Akashwani centres in the this dispensary, which is not working Santhai Pargana. properly. I would request the Rail­ way Minister to see and act upon it 13-06 hrs. and also provide some staff to this dispensary so that four hundred fami­ RAILWAY BUDGET, 1991-9 2 - lies will_be benefited. GENERAL DISCUSSION AND Now I come to reservations. Kol­ DEMANDS FOR GRANTS hapur is the last station from Bombay (RAILWAYS), 1991 -92 —Contd. and it is very close to Konkan. In­ flow of passengers between Kol­ [.English1 hapur and Konkan is quite heavy. But there is not much reservation MR. SPEAKER: Now we shall facility here. Only a few berths are take up further discussion on the there. The reservation quota of First Railways Budget and the Demands Class, A.C. Class and II Class is quite for Grants (Railways). Shri Udai- inadequate and it should be doubled. singhrao Gaikwad. I would like to bring to the notice SHRI UDAISINGHRAO GAIK­ of the hon. Minister one more thing* WAD (Kolhapur): Sir, at the out­ i.e., change of zone. At present there set I support the Railway Budget. I is a great difficulty in having reserva­ shall be very brief because oi time tion, settlement of claims and move­ limit and shall give a few suggestions ment of goods traffic because Kolhu* to the Railway Ministry, mostly con­ pur is attached to South Central Rail­ fining to my District Kolhapur in way and the headquarters of which is Dmi. for Grants 232 231 Rly. Budget. 1991-92.. JU LY 25, 1991 (Mys.), 1991-92 Gen. Discussion & [Shri Udaisinghrao Gaikwad] [Translation] at Secunderabad. They have to get SHRI KASHIRAM RANA (Su­ reservations and other claim settle­ rat): Hon. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would ments froni Secunderabad. So, Kol­ like to express my views on the Rail­ hapur should be joined with Central way Budget for the year 1991-92 pre­ Railway, which has got headquarters sented by the hon. Minister of Rail­ in Bombay, ways. First of all, I would like to Sir, I now come to loss of wagon thank the hon. Minister for fulfilling loads and pilferage. There are many a long pending demand for including complaints in this regard from Maha Surat and Sawai Madhopur Stations rashtra and more particularly relating as stoppages on the route of the Air- to pig iron and coal, which is used in conditioned Express plying between industry. Many claims have been Bombay and Delhi. One suggestion settled. Yet there are many claims that I would like to give here is that, which are yet to be settled. But the when the Government has conferred fact remains the same that the indu­ the country’s highest civilian award, stry requires raw materials to run the the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on the late Sardar industry and not the compensation Patel to honour him for the services amount for raw materials. If this rendered by him to the country, it thing will happen again and again, should also name this train after him, then the industry will come to a full- to perpetuate the memory of the late stop and become sick. So, 1 would leader in the minds of the people. request the Railway Ministry that it Further, this train runs three days a should take a serious note of it and week. Tf the trains make their de* act strongly. parture from Bombay on the days on There is one more thing and that which they leave Delhi, it would not is one extra train from Kolhapur to only make the journey much more Bombay. At present, there are two convenient to the passengers, but also trains running from Kolhapur to Bom­ remove much of the difficulties, they bay. One is Sahyadri Express and presently face. I would also say that the other is Mahalaxmi Express. enough attention has not been paid Sahyadri Express takes 14 hours and in this budget towards the passenger Mahalaxmi takes ten hours. Even amenities. Though it has spread no though these trains are running in the effort to make their purses lighter. evening, there is one more thing that The Railways expect to collect Rs. 584 they have to stop at Mirage where crores within eight months through the passengers get the connecting the increase in passenger fares. The trains for Goa and Bangalore. If hike in the fares could have been these trains are late, then naturally justified, had the hon. Minister made direct passengers suffer. So I would some provisions for the improvement plead with the Minister that the only and expansion of facilities for the solution lies in running a separate passengers. Whenever on behalf of superfast train between Kolhapur and the Passenger Associations we make Bombay sometime in the evening. a request for additional facilities to Lastly, I congratulate the Railway passengers, we are told that there is a Ministry for giving top priority to the shortage of resources and as such, Konkan railway line which was a thev are not in a position to do any­ dream of the Konkan region. Also thing at present. Consequently, daily I feel that lack of funds must not commuters and other regular passen­ stand in the way of constructing this gers face a lot of inconvenience and line. So my request is that funds difficulties. The hon. Minister of should be provided for this project. Railways has not outlined any mea­ sure in the Budget, proposed to be These are a few suggestions which undertaken to remove the difficulties I wanted to make. Again I support faced by the passengers. Similarly, the Railway Budget. for a long time, there have been 233 Rly. Budget, 1991*92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Denu for Grants 234 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

demands for laying new railway lines it was introduced, we were given an and for conversion of Metre-gauge assurance that the frequency would into broad-gauge lines. However, the be increased to four times a week. hon. Minister of Railways has made Although over a year has passed it clear that conversion of the exist­ since then, it continues to run twice a ing lines and laying new lines would week. Not only this, I also feel that involve an expenditure of near about this train should go via Allahabad, as Rs. 3005 crore and that the Railway it would prove immensely beneficial Ministry is not in a position to incur to the lakhs of people from North, such a heavy amount. Thus, we find who have settled down in Surat and that this Budget doesn’t contain any Ahmedabad. Therefore, you should proposal for the conversion of exist­ see tv it that the Tapti-Ganga Ex­ ing narrow-gauge lines or for laying press goes via Allahabad. We have new railway lines. Our area has a repeatedly made our requests, in this large network of narrow gauge lines, regard to both the Railway Ministry which needs to, be converted into and the hon. Minister of Railways. broad-gauge. There is a metre-gauge However, no such provision has been line between Palampur and Ahmeda- made in this Budget also. If the bad and the people who commute on frequency of this train is increased to that route face many problems, which four times a week and if it’s route is we people, sitting in Delhi, cannot even diverted a bit to pass via Allahabad, visualize. Therefore, it is very essen­ it would prove to be very convenient tial that the conversion work, that has and helpful to the Surat-based North been put off for the time being should Indians. be re-started immediately. Financial constraints are not something new to us, it will be there in future too, Seventy per cent of the total track but we should not compromise at route of Western Railway passe* any cost on the facilities to be pro­ through Gujarat. There is a long vided to the passengers. Therefore, pending demand for the transfer of you should fulfil the demands of the the Western Railway headquarters public in this regard. from Bombay to Gandhi Nagar or Ahmedabad and it should be fulfilled as the demand is totally justified. In Too much burden has been placed the context of this demand, I would on the shoulders of the passenger*. like to draw the attention of the House When 1 went through the contents of towards a development that took the Budget proposals, I was astonish­ place in the past. Many years back, ed to find that 42 per cent of the total a committee had made some recom­ revenue is to be incurred on the pay mendations to create (establish) new and allowances alone. Only two per divisions at many places including cent of the total revenue has been Bhopal. Ambala and Ahmedabad. earmarked for developmental work# However, except in the case of Ah­ which is very little. With this smal! medabad, all other recommendations amount, it would be impossible to were accepted. The Railway Ministry improve even the existing facilities. is yet to grant the status of a Divi­ Therefore, the money allocated for sion to Ahmedabad. Although, the this purpose should be increased. demand for shifting the headquarters of Western Railway from Bombay to Ahmedabad has been there for a long It is not that we haven’t approach­ time but the Ministry is yet to take ed the Railway Ministry with these steps in that direction. Ahmedabad proposals, but they have always turn­ is the (de-facto) capital of Gujarat and ed a deaf ear to our pleas. To cite this long pending demand should be an example, last year, a new train, conceded at least on this basis but Tapi-Ganga Express’ was introduced. the Railway Ministry dosenrt seem to It tm s twice a week. However, when be convinced so fat. 16—14 LSS/ND/91 235 Riy. Budget. 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dent, far GfaMs Gen. Discussion & {Rfys-), 1991-92

[Sh./Kashiram Rana] Gujarat are vety smafi. The Railway Budget hasn^t mentioned any pro­ - Mr. Speaker, Sir, alongwith all this, posal to remodel these stations or to I would also like to draw the atten­ establish ‘Model Stations’. Even tkt tion, of the hon. Minister of Railways railway station in Navsari doesn’t towards the fact that the conversion have adequate facilities. Recently! of the Veraval-Rajkot line from the Railway Ministry got contracted metre-gauge to broad-gauge was sanc­ a ticket window and a waiting hall at tioned long back. At the initial an expense of seven to eight lath stages., the project was estimated to rupees, but these minor improve­ cost Rupees 12 crores. but today, it ments are not going to make much has gone upto Rupees 50 crores, but difference. There is a flourishing the,conversion work is yet to be com* diamond industry there, thousands of pleted. Therefore, it is my humble people from outside have settled there submission that all efforts should be and people from all over the cou&fer made to expedite it and complete the visit that place and it is very mud* work. necessary to build a new railway sta­ tion on the western side of the exist­ Mr, Speaker, Sir, I wa & elected from ing station, where there is ample land, the ^Sutat Constituency. I would like in order to provide adequate facilities to draw the attention of the hon. Rail­ to the people. The railway station at way Minister towards a very serious Navsari should be fe-modelled on the matter pertaining to my constituency. lines of the stations at Bharuch and When. this city had a population of Ankleswar, because it has generally just three lakhs, the Surat Railway been observed that the small stations Station had three platforms, and the are not able to meet the requirements number remains the. same even today, at the people. although the population has risen to twenty lakhs. Moreover, during those days, only ten or twelve trains used Hon. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will con­ to pass through Surat, but today the clude after saying just one more point. scenario has undergone a total change This budget depends too much on and the station caters to 30 passenger fare hikes, so far as resource mobili­ trains apart from innumerable goods sation is concerned. What I want to trains. Unfortunately, apart from say is that there is ample scope for constructing a new platform, that too improving the efficiency of the rail­ without any facilities, no steps have ways. There are many ways in which been taken to improve and expand the we can check corruption and other facilities, keeping in view the grow­ malpractices. If we improve the ing population and related issues. efficiency of the Railways and check What I want to’ emphasise is that the ever growing corruption, we shall the existing station is too small to be able to mobilize enough resources cater to a city with a population of that it won’t be necessary to burden 20 lakhs, a city which boasts of a the common man. On the contrary. I n^jmber of industries including tex­ also believe that if the efficiency is tiles, diamonds and Zari (Gold/Silver improved, We would be in a position brocade), a city which is visited by a to lower the fares and make life more large number of people in connection comfortable for the common mm. with busiiiess. The problems curren­ tly being faced by the people would be alleviated to a great extent, if a Although, there was a recommen­ new full-fledged station is built on dation to create the pO$t of a Mem­ the eastern side of the existing sta­ ber (Stores) in the Railway Boajrd, tion. I request the hon. Minister of nobody has been nominated so far. Railways to give a serious thought in Therefore, the Railway Minister this tiircction, because most of the should immediately noi&mfc softs Tailway stations located in South one as Member (Stores) in ihe Rail­ 237 Rly. Budget, 1991*92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 ( 5 ^ ^ ) Dem. for Grants 238 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92 way Board. Bunglings, embezzle­ our society. They are mostly profes­ ment, and Mismanagement are the sionals. The daily commuters include jhallmarks of the functioning of rail­ professors, teachers, advocates, doc­ way stores located in many states and tors, small businessmen, shop-keepers I believe that creation of the post of and business administrators. Most of a Member (Stores) would prove help­ them depend on their monthly sala­ ful in putting an end to these mal­ ries. Most of the rich people have practices and consequently it would their own conveyance and they do iuq>rove efficiency, which in turn not depend on Railways. would not only enable the Railways to raise additional resources but also The Central Railway has 65 to 67 strengthen the national economy as a nine-coach rakes and runs 1,050 whole. trains. The Western Railway has 59 nine-coach rakes and runs 824 Mr. Speaker, Sir, 1 am extremely trains. Each train is supposed to car­ grateful to you for giving me an op- ry one thousand people sitting and portunity to speak. .another one thousand people stand­ ing in the train. But, fortunately or [English] unfortunately, the trains are always overloaded with a capacity of three SHRI SUNIL DUTT (Bombay- to four thousand people. Sometimes North): Sir, I am very grateful to people are hanging outside the door you for having given me this op­ resulting in accidents. The Bombay portunity to speak on the Railway Suburban Passenger Association has Budget. I congratulate the Minis­ prepared a time-table by which we can ter of Railways Shri Jaffer Sharief run more trains in the same time li­ for presenting us such a generous mit and can provide better transport Budget, keeping in view the econo­ fac:lities to the passengers and can mic problem of our country and save a lot of human life. I wish that specially the problems of the com­ the Chief Electrical Engineer of the mon man. There is no doubt that Railways could gather that informa­ this Budget takes care of every sec­ tion t orn them. tion of our society. It also takes care of transport of our daily com­ modities of life from one place to My request is to have two coaches, another. instead of ihe present one-and-a-half, for the ladies. Most of the ladies who But, I may say that the Hon’ble commute by train* are working la­ Minister has shown step-motherly dies and most of the time .they do love to the suburban commuters of not have a proper place to sit. ' I also Bombay. The suburban train ser­ request that either one full coach or vice in Bombay has shown profit at least one half-coach should be throughout in the past couple of reserved for the disabled persons so years. It was not, therefore, fair on that they could commute easily in the part of Railways to hike the fare the overcrowded trains, because t$n of suburban railway’s monthly pass­ per cent of our population are dis­ es. With the proposed increase the abled persons. fare of second class long distance tra­ vel by quarterly pass will be increased It is generally said that the pub­ by Rs. 40, and the first class quar­ lic transport is always cheapest— terly pass will now cost Rs. 160. 1 than the other private modes erf would like to bring to the kind no­ transportation. But it is not true in tice of the Hon’ble Minister that the case of Railways. Railway trans­ the people who travel by suburban port is the most expensive today. trains in first class arc not very rich I give the details by way of compari­ people. They are mostly from mid: son In Bombay an auto-rickshaw die class or higher middle class of carries three people for a distance of 239 Rfy. Budget , 1991-92— JULY 25, 1991 Dent, for Grants 240 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991*92

[Sh. Sunil Dutt] With these words, Sir, I thank you. 1.6 kms. and it costs Rs. 4. That means Rs. 1.33 per person. More­ [Translation] over this is a door-to-door service. Similarly, a taxi, carrying four per- SHRI V.N. SHARMA (Hamirpur): sons, costs Rs. 6 for a distance of Mr Speaker, Sir, I raise to oppose {JL6 kms. That means Rs. 1.50 per the proposals made in the Railway person and that service is also a Budget. This is another document door-to-door service. But, to catch of the Congress Government which a train, one has to go to the sta­ has been formulated to befool the tion. With the present increase erf people without paying little atten­ fares, it costs Rs. 1.50 to travel in tion to their difficulties. A total de­ second class in a train of three to mand for Rs. 23,000 crores, is being four thousand people. This is just made in the Railway Budget out of to sit in the train for one-and-a-half which Rs. 7 thousand crores have kms. though the facility is very in­ already been sanctioned and Rs. ferior. But if a person has to com­ 16,000 crores are being provided mute for one kilometre, even then now. he has to pay .Rs. 1.50. By first class »it costs Rs. 21 for a person in these [SHRI P. M. SAYEED in the Chair] overcrowded trains. I think if wasteful expenditure is re­ If you travel from Bombay to Pu­ duced by 20 per cent the deficit not ne by a taxi it will cost you Rs. 117. only in the Railway Budget but also If you travel by ASIAD luxury in the Geueral Budget could be bus of 52 passengers, it will cost you bridged over to a great extent. If Rs. 52. But if you travel by first we go through the animal report of class in a train it will cost you Rs. the Railways and make a compara­ 130 and Rs. 37 by second class. tive study, we would find that Rail­ Therefore, my earnest request to ways used to earn a profit of Rs. the Hon’ble Minister is that the pub­ 15 crore in 1950-51 whereas today lic transport should be made chea­ it is 173 crore. But at the same time, per. I would request him not to im­ we should bear in mind that accord­ pose an increased fare on the season ing to official figures the real value tickets of Bombay suburban trains. of rupee is only 9 paise and there­ Secondly, I would request that the fore in terms of money the profit freight charges on milk transport should have been automatically Rs. should be reduced and the wide privi- 160 crore. tisation of the cleaning services that the Government is thinking of giving Similarly, the investment in Rail­ will definitely affect the weaker sec­ ways has gone up from Rs. 800 tions as well. crore to Rs. 19,000 crore. In all other aspects the Railways has Lastly, Sir, I would like to bring to expanded its size. The number of the kind notice of the hon. Minister engines has increased and their qua­ that in my area Bandra, a very beau­ lity has become better. Diesel and tiful terminal is set up. But to have electric engines have replaced steam a linking road to the main road, engines. The number of railway there are a lot of hutments that will coaches has increased manifolds. Si­ come in the way and they are re­ milarly, the number of railway wa­ quired to be demolished. I would gons has also increased. There has request the hon Minister that when been tremendous hike in the freight those hutments are demolished pro­ haulage and passenger traffic and as per compensation should be provided a result the earnings of the railways to those people who have been liv­ has registered a marked increase. ing there for many many years. The per tonne freight rate per kilo­ 241 My. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem.for Grants 242 ben. Discussion & (Riys.), 1991-92 metre which was Rs. 3.16 p. earlier Mughalsarai is reputed to be not is now Rs, 27.87 p. There is a 900 only the biggest railway yard but per cent increase in it. Inspite of also the biggest centre of goods pil- all this Railways have earned a pro­ ferred from the Railways.” fit of only Rs. 173 crore. The rea­ son is that there is large scale cor­ ruption and over staffing in the Rail­ Indian Express dated 23rd August, ways. The hon. Minister has said 1980 captioned, ‘Coolies—linchpin of that he would try to ‘trim’ the orga­ Attari corruption’ says: nisation. Only this word throughout the entire Budget speech, provides “It is said that they have pooled a ray of hope and the hon. Minis­ in around Rs. 1,500 each to collect ter deserves congratulations for us­ about 1.25 lakhs and ate looking ing this word. But I doubt whether for the kind of official who could the hon. Minister can keep his word take the money and let Attari re­ because he would not be able to tain its glory. The stakes are high”. remove even a single person. Gene­ rally slogans are raised here for reinstatement of employees. So far [T r ambition] it has been the Congress culture also The Coolies ae even ready to pay to provide employment to people upto Rs. 10,000 each. This was a at any cost whether there is effici­ news item in 1980. They wanted to ency or not. whether there is pro­ get the official transferred from Amrit­ ductivity or not. That is why I have sar to Attari. This was happening at my own doubts about the likely- that time, now there has been much hood of the assurance given here be­ devaluation in the value of rupee. The ing fulfilled. coolies requested that the Attari Checkpost should be shifted to Am­ Secondly. about corruption, 1 ritsar itself. would like to point out to the hon. Minister, who had been the Minister of State for Railways earlier, that [English] even his predecessors—Shri George Indian Express dated 16th Nov­ Fernandes and Shri Abdul Ghani ember, 1982, captioned, ‘Derailing Khan Chowdhury—have admitted corruption’ says: that corruption to the tune of over Rs. 2,000 crore is prevalent in the Railways. ‘The Railway Minister, Mr. Abdul Ghani Khan Choudhury has just ordered the scrapping of the North Hon. Minister Sir, where are you East Frontier Railway Service going? Kindly listen to me patiently. Commission on the ground of out­ Now I would like to submit what rageous corruption.” has been happening during your te­ nure. Some of the examples are:— “The Chairman of the RSC, Mr. B.P. Bhargava was transferred af­ ter highlighting grave irregularities [English] in appointments following the 1981 examination. One of his predeces­ The Statesman dated 17th Decem­ sors, Mr. Ashraf Ali Khan, was ber,, 1980, captioned ‘Speed Money’ sacked for gross misuse of powers.” and ‘Red Alert’, says: Economic Times dated 6th May, 1983, captioned, ‘CBI probe order­ “Varanasi has no coal depot. And ed’ says: yet the citizens’ coal needs are met. How? From Mughalsarai, which is “Of the 13,500 cases in category next door, of course. 25 screened so far, 6,076 appear to 243- Rly. Budget, 1991-92— JULY 25, m i Dent, for Grams 244 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Hu V. N. Sharma] RSC had become such a farce that even a physically unfit person was be involved in malpractices. Hence, appointed to a job which required the final panel was not permitted strenuous physical work.” to be published though a provi­ sional panel had been released ear­ lier.’' [Translation] Indian Express dated 18th June, It was during his tenure that Shri 1983, captioned, ‘Irregularities in .Al­ Ashraf Ali Khan was sacked and lahabad RSC exam’ says: Shri Bhargava was appointed in his place. Again it was on his comp­ “The corruption-ridden Allahabad laint that Shri Bhargava was removed RSC had been under the control of from office and Shri Ashraf Ali Khan Mr. Ashraf Ali Khan, a Congress was brought back into chair. You (I) leader and former UP Minister. can yourself imagine what should we * iDuring* his two tenures of five years expect from such a person. I have and nine months, the jobs offer­ hopes and I believe that the world ed by RSC were ‘ on open sale”, survives on hope. I am sure you .according to the Bhargava report." would learn from the past mistakes and would not push the country into [Translation] a worse situation. I hope you would bring about improvements in the ‘Me­ Shri Bhargava himself was one of chanical Monster' so that we do not the Railway appointees. come across news items like ‘Jour­ ney hellish nightmare for the poor’? When Shri Bhargava brought the At least something should be done cases of corruption to light he him­ for those about whom they claim self was immediately transferred. that a lot is being done. Out of the [English] total earnings of Rs. 584 crore, Rs. 200 crore is being collected from second “According to Railway Board class fare and out of the rest Rs. sources, the successful candidates 384 crore, I could not get the exact belonged to areas from where most figures—may be around Rs. 350 df the Railway bigwigs came. The crore would be collected through districts producing a majority of fare hike. In this way that burden successful candidates are Varanasi also falls on the poor. Government (Mr. Kamlapati Tripathi), Ma­ would not be able to get even 5 to thura (Mr. Ashraf Ali Khan, for­ 10 per cent from the fare hike on mer Chairman of RSC, Allaha­ upper classes mainly used by so call­ bad), and Allahabad Pratapgarh ed rich persons whom you don’t fa^ (Mr. Abdul Khaliq, the OSD in Mr. vour. 1, therefore, would like to Sharief s office, hails from . eastern submit to the hon. Minister through UP)”- you, to stop being hypocritical and instead of taking die name of poor Now, this is Indian Express dated again and again, do something con­ 19th June, 1983 captioned “Railway crete for their welfare. selection racket-II, 2 RSC Chairmen Transferred”. It says: SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH (Sid- dipet): Mr. Chairman, Sir; we are “The Allahabad RSC earlier had discussing the Railway Budget today. a former U.P. Minister and Con­ I would like to congratulate our ho­ gress I leader, Mr. Ashraf Ali Khan nourable Railway Minister Shri Jaffer as Chaintian from August 16, 1976 Sharief and Shri Mallikarjun. Yon to October 25, 1981. He was sack­ are aware .of i f t fact that most of ed. when it was discovered that the people in India travel by second apf^intments by the Allahabad class coaches and there, is not much 245 Rly. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 246 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92 hike in the second class fares and five years for its completion. Ho­ that is why I would like to congratu­ nourable Minister of State m the late Shri Jaffer Sharief! Ministry of Railways who is present here has represented Medak district and he was elected thrice from that All the Members participating in constituency. He also comes from the discussion in this House say that Andhra Pradesh. I would also like their area is backward. If every to submit that the construction of this Member considers his area back­ 8 km. line alone is not sufficient, ward, then which is the forward area? but railway lines from Telapur to Every honourable Member who PeddapallL Sanghareddi to Changa- comes here after winning the election reddi, Changareddi to Siddipet and refers to his area as backward during Siddipet to Karimnagar should be the discussion. started, because this railway line will cover two districts. Honourable Minister would be aware of the fact 1 came from Siddipet parliamen­ that there are no railway lines only tary constituency of Medak district in Siddipet and Karimnagar among in Andhra Pradesh. Fifteen years all the districts of Telangana. In this back the then Prime Minister of our backward area Patnecharubu is such country Shrimati Indira Gandhi had a place where BHEL, IDPL and won her election from Medak dis­ many subsidiary units are functioned trict and constituency in Andhra Pra­ there. Siddipet is the Divisional desh. At that time Mr. M. Baga Headquarters. There are so many tex­ Reddy was the Panchayati Raj Mi­ tile units, rice mills, other mills and nister. Mr. M. Baga Reddy has now it is a business .centre also. When I been elected as a Member. At that, visit my constituency, the people ge­ time our Medak district of Andhra nerally desire that they should be Pradesh was an extremely backward given maximum facilities of train area. We requested Shrimati Indira service, telephones and post offices. Gandhi and the then Railway Minis­ I , would request the Honourable ter Shri Kamlapati Tripathi for the Railway Minister who is once again construction of a new railway line. holding the same portfolio that a rail­ The survey was completed in 1980 way line from Pattamchurubu : to and the construction of the 8 kilo­ Sanghareddi may be constructed as metre long line was also started the early as possible. same year, but even to this day the 8 kilometre long line has not been completed yet, and I feel very sad about it. I was a Member of the We have got two trains for An­ previous Consultative Committee and dhra Pradesh, one is A.P. Express I had asked this question in that ca­ and the other is Dakshin Express. I pacity. The estimated cost for the would like to inform you that four construction of the line was rupees 5 trains leave Delhi for different city crore. After the increase in the esti­ capitals—namely, Delhi to Calcutta, mated cost and after it was discuss­ Delhi to Bombay, Delhi to Lucknow ed in the then Railway Consultative and Delhi to Gwalior. I would re­ Committee, there was an increase of quest you that a similar Shatabdi Rupees 10 crore. It was covered in Express tram may please be start­ vote on account, but I would like ed from Delhi to Andhra Pradesh: to submit to the hon. Minister that 1 would request the honourable Mi­ the estimated outlay for the construc­ nister that there should be a plann­ tion of this line was shown as Rs. 95 ing and a system m the Railway crore. It takes, six-hours to complete Ministry so that a vmp is prepared journey on this route. If the cons­ after a planning of the badrwafd truction work is continuously done areas about the works to be done offiHMs line for five '.years; it will take. at Various places, bat we find tfeit 247 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dent, for Grants Gen. Discussion & (.Rlys ), 1991-92

[Sh. Nandi Yellaiah] from Secunderabad to Bhongir. A Railway Ministers come and try large number of people including their best for introduction of trains bank employees and businessmen towards their own area and cons­ come to Hyderabad daily by train. truction of railway line in their own I would, therefore, request the area. Such a thing should not be honourable Minister to start a local allowed under the democracy. Eve- passenger train from Bhongir to fry member is elected to Lok Sabha Hyderabad. after contesting elections and this House should provide justice to all. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would conclude It is not proper that the trains are my speech with one more point. introduced and lines are constructed In my State of Andhra Pradesh there only in the areas belonging to the is Yadagiri Gutta which comes after Railway Ministers. I do not know Balaji Tirupati Devasthanam temple. as to what type of work is done by It is in our district Nalgonda. Many the Chairman of Railway Board. people from Hyderabad and Secun­ Members of Parliament who have derabad numbering in thousands visit spoken before me have also said this shrine weekly to have a darshan these things. of the deity. There are some such railway crossings which create tre­ Mr. Chairman, Sir, I would like to mendous difficulties to the passengers say a few words about the departure and the public. time of A.P. Express. The present departure time of the train is such that two days are wasted. This train I would request the honourable leaves for Delhi from Secunderabad Minister for the construction of an in the morning and arrives here at Overhead bridge there as these brid­ 8.30 a.B|L I would request the ges have been constructed at Kerata- honourafefe Minister that Secundera­ bad and Begumpett. so that there is bad-bound train leaving Delhi should some facility for the passengers. leave at 8 or 9 instead of 2.30 p.m. so that we can spend the night in train Mr. Speaker, Sir, lastly. I would instead of sleeping at home after end my speech with a request to allo­ taking our dinner. If you could cate funds for the ensuing year for change the time schedule, there can construction of railway line from be some saving of time instead of Telapur to Sangareddi which is the wastage of it. headquarters of Medak district. The construction of railway line should Now I would like to make a sub­ not stop at Telapur. With these mission about my own area. A words I conclude my speech. local train runs between Ailookanam to Maindchal which is a distance of [English] only 30 kms. I would like to in­ form you that the distance between SHRI N. DENNIS (Nagercoil): Maindchal and Manoharabad is 10 Sir, while supporting the Railway Kms. and the people of Manoharabad Budget, I wish to make a few points, have to travel to the city with milk Inspite of the increase in the cost and vegetables. There is no train of fuel and other inputs, a surplus facility for these people there. The Budget has been presented. Consi­ distance between Maindchal and dering the present economic circums­ Manoharabad is 10 kms. A repre­ tances, the Railway Budget is sof­ sentation for extension of this line ter than expected of it. tas also been given. We request the hoiiou™bte Minister to pay his Though; there is increase in the fare attention t$.v»rds this problem. I and freight rates, yet the increase is request tto t* train should be started modest and it is not Tiard, The in- 249 Rly. Budget, 1991-92 SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dent, for Grants 250 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92 crease in the second class fares is 14.00 firs. only nominal. The increase is mainly on the upper class passengers Only meagre allotments are who can afford to pay. made. Against the last year’s allot- ment of Rs. 14.85 crores, this year only Rs. 13 crores were allotted. Last Regarding the freight rates, the year only Rs. 10 crores were spent exemption is extended to essential on this work and the work is very commodities which is a step in the slow. It would take years, if the right direction. There is no change allocation is too like this. Thou­ in the rates of platform tickets reser­ sands and thousands of tourists are vation charges and superfast sur­ visiting the Kanyakumari—which is charge. Tlie increase is needed for a tourist centre—to see the sun set carrying on the developmental activi­ and sun rise to see the southern most ties of the railways and also to stabi­ part of our country to see the place lise its financial position. where three seas meet and other places of tourist interest and also to offer worship in the famous Bhaga- The emphasis on electrification and vathy Amman temple. also on extension of computerisation to more places and track renewals are welcome features in the Budget. For the promotion of national in­ The matter of concern is that ihere tegration. Kanyakumari should be is no proposal to start any new train linked with direct express trains to service, no proposal for any new rail­ different parts of the country. At way line and no proposal for any new present, there are only three Express gauge conversion. trains that are directly going to diffe­ rent parts from Kanyakumari. In­ stead of introducing more and more trains to Kanyakumari, the trains I wish to point out that no attempt that are being operated have been is made to remove the regional im­ taken away. balance. There are very few pro­ jects in Tami^Nadu. But adequate allocation is not made for the speedy For instance, the Kannanore Ex­ execution of these projects. An press which was originally operated amount of Rs. 17.1 crores is allotted from Kanyakumari goes only upto for Madurai broad gauge line. But Trivandrum. This has to be restor­ there is no provision for its extension ed as the passengers are facing lot of up to Maniachi and thereby to Tuti­ difficulties and inconvenience because corin. This is a very important of its stoppage. project but the execution of this work is very slow. It would take years if the allocation is low like this. Similarly, Madras-Trivandrum The economic development of the mail. Madras is the State Capital Southern part of Tamil Nadu depends of Kanyakumari district. Now the on this project. Therefore, top people of Kanyakumari cannot go priority has to* be given for this directly by the same train, though project in view of the commercial there is a B.G. railway line up to importance of the location of Tuti­ Kanyakumari. On different occa­ corin and other places located in this sions. this extension of Madras Mail State. upto Kanyakumari was put in the time-table but. in the last minute it was given up due to political pres- Again for Madras, the targetted sure. Some other Express trams, date of completion of this project originally proposed to go upto Kanya­ between Madras Beach and Luz was kumari were also given up in the last 1991. minute. Guwahati-Trivandrum train 11 14 LSS'ND/91 251 Rly> Budget , 1991-92— JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 252 Crew. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. N. Dennis] and Parvathipuram in the Trivand- proposed to go upto Kanyakumari, in rum-Kanyakumari railway line. the name of Vivekananda Express, re­ These demand have to be taken into minding the memories of Vivekananda consideration and implemented. who meditated at Kanyakumari, was also stopped in the last minute. Similar There is also a demand for conver­ is the case with Ahmedabad-Trivand- sion of metregauge lines to BG lines along Madras-Vellipuram and Trichy- rum Express which was originally in­ Madurai which covers the centre of tended to go upto Kanyakumari Tamilnadu. It also connects im­ "Hie Kerala Express has to be exten­ portant towns of Tamilnadu. That ded to Kanyakumari. work has to be taken into considera­ The terminals at Kanyakumari are tion. not being adequately utilised. It is over-crowded at Trivandrum. Some The casual workers who are engag­ trains terminating at Trivandrum can ed in the construction works, after be extended to Kanyakumari which the completion of a particular line, is only 85 Kms. from Trivandrum. are sent out of work. They are not Railway lines go beyond the barriers given any work even in the new pro­ and the operation of trains services jects. In the Trivandrum-Kanya- should be in the national interest and kumari railway line such persons are for the overall convenience of passen­ in large numbers. They should be gers. accommodated. It was considered Another point I would like to bring by the Government that railway pas­ to the notice of the hon. Minister is ses would be given to the ex-MPs. that there is a proposal for establish­ A decision has to be taken for issu­ ing a Coaching Complex at Nager- ing railway passes to ex-MPs. coil. It has an extensive area of 98 acres of land with infrastructural faci­ An announcement was made for lities and other conveniences. It is the operation of a superfast day ex­ also an industrially backward area. press train between Madras and Tiru- nalveli, via Trichy and Madurai. Another thing I would like to point That has to be implemented. out is about manning at level cros­ sings. There is an unmanned level crossing at Palliady in the Trivand- The running time of trains should rum-Kanyakumari Railway line. not be more than the running time of the buses. The difference in the The present policy of the Govern­ facilities and conveniences between ment is that expenses for manning first class and second class compart­ should be met by the local people or ments should be reduced and mini* by local bodies or by the local Govern­ mised. In the second class compart­ ment. The local people won’t meet ments there is no water facility, clean­ the expenses and the local bodies are liness is not upto the mark, toilet is also financially not in a position to not clean, light arrangement is not meet such expenses. The Govern­ adequate. All these will have to ment of the State won’t take interest be taken into consideration. in such cases. So wherever manning of level-crcssings is essential, the Electrification of Kanyakumari- Railway Department has to make Emakulam is a necessity—I would arrangements for the same. Either like to stress on that. Vaikai train manning at the level-crossings has to that goes from Madras to Madurai be done or overbridge has to be pro­ should be extended to Tirunalveli. vided. An overbridge should be provided at Palliadi. SHRI A. CHARLES (Trivand­ Thejs are demands for opening of rum): Kanyakumari was a part of new railway stations at Tenkankuli Kerala. All these would be done if 253 Rly. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Deni; for Grants 254 Gen. Discussion & (Rfys.), 1991-92

Kanyakumari js handed over to if the corruption in the Railways is Kerala. mitigated. I saw in a report that the number of the ticketless travellers was very high in 1989. That year, [Translation] a sum of Rs. 13 crore 25 lakh of fine was collected from ticketless tra­ vellers. Likewise, a sum of Rs. 15 SHRI RAJNATH SONKAR crore 83 lakh of fine was collected SHASTRI (Saidpur): Mr. Chair- in the year 1990-91 from ticketless man, Sir, I am grateful to you for travellers. 81,622 and 35,155 per­ giving me a chance to speak on the sons were arrested during the last Railway Budget. Sir, this Railway year and the current year respectively Budget has been presented here by for indulging in malpractices and my old colleagues Shri Jaffer Sharief punished. These arrests show the and Shri Mallikarjun. So, I do income of Rs. 175 crore. I think not want to criticise these friends but there has been a surplus income of I am constrained to say that the Bud­ Rs. 2,000 crore. Today, as Shri George get proposals generate a feeling of Fernandes has admitted and 1 recall utter despair and are without any that in 1982-83 when discussion was direction. going on on the Railway Bud­ get Shri Jaffer Sharief had stated in reply to a question that corruption A deficit of Rs. 512 crore was was rampant in Railways. Thus, shown in the Interim Budget and both of them accept it. The hon. the main Budget shows deficit to the Minister should draw the attention tune of Rs. 584 crore. If we take the of Minister of Planning to the fact that current programmes and schemes into the allocations for the Railways in the account, this deficit may go up to Rs. successive Five-Year Plans have been one thousand crore. I have been ob­ going down. In the First Five-Year serving in the Parliament for the last Plan there was 15 per cent allocation many years that whenever the Railway for the Railways, in the second plan Budget is presented, it shows a deficit the percentage was 11, in the third and the details thereof given. I have plan it was 7 per cent, in the fourth seen that whenever there is a deficit, plan 5 per cent, in the sixth plan the Ministry of Railways raises the 5.2 per cent and in the seventh rates of freight and passenger fare plan 6.3 per cent. Thus, we see that to cover the deficit. This time the the allocation for the Railways is passenger fare has been increased very going down continuously. I think skilfully. Earlier in 1989-90 there that the hon. Minister of Railways had been an income of Rs. 10739 should talk to the Minister of Plan­ crore on account of hike in the rates ning for getting the allocation raised. of freight and passenger fare and this There is much corruption in the time our hon. Minister has raised Railways though it is rampant every­ Rs. 2100 crore for covering this defi­ where in the country but it is on the cit. Thus there has been the total high side in the Railways. I was extra income of about Rs. 12655 crore. going through a report of 1988 in 1 think this is injustice. This shows which it is mentioned that 9,327 cases that the economy of the Railways is of corruption were found. The in shambles. Fortunately, this number of such cases in 1989 was time both the Railway Ministers are 10,730 and in 1990 the number was experienced fellows. Had they been 9,886. In just 35 months 29,983 attentive towards these circumstan­ cases of corruption were found in the ces, the hike in the rate of freight Railways. Such a large number of and fare could have been avoided. corruption cases in the Railways is One of our friends has pointed out just now that there would be no need a matter of surprise. I request the of raising the fares and freight rates hon. Minister to look into this. 255 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 256 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. Rajnath Sonkar Shastri] he has been transferred to Delhi. I would like to request the hon. Minis- I would like to say something ter to clarify this. There are many about a particular case as Shri Jaffer such bunglings Sharief who happened to be a Minis­ ter of Railways earlier is present. I was going through an old case. Shri THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS { )* is a high officer in the (SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF): Railways. According to other offi­ I do not know the person about cers of Railways his appointment to whom the hon. Member is talking of. that post had been made by Shri He may be one of the thousands of Jaffer Sharief in 1982-83. ( )* Railway employees. I had appoint­ is the highest officer of the depart­ ed a scheduled caste girl, the daughter ment and he indulges fraud and of an ex. M.P. from Bihar, who is strange are his ways that in the Prime now no more. Today, I am a Minis­ Minister’s office.. ter but tomorrow I may be an M.P. or a former Minister. The Director [English] of Estate was throwing out the be­ longings of that girl's family. And SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA that girl came to me weeping and I (Kamal}.‘ Mr. Chairman, can an arranged a job for her. Today, she officer be attacked by name? is in the Railways and she is an allot­ tee of a quarter now. I have made [Translation] this appointment. You may object to it if it is wrong. SHRI RAJNATH SONKAR SHASTRI: The issue has already been made public. This issue has SHRI RAJNATH SONKAR been discussed here also. It is not SHASTRI: I congratulate the hon. so significant. The hon. Minister Minister for this good deed. 1 am has also admitted that he is innocent. well acquainted with his gentleman­ A canteen is run by { )* in the liness. Earlier he had arranged con­ Prime Minister’s office in which tracts to run canteen for some jobless ( )* appointed a person. persons.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please, do SHRI DAU DAYAL JOSHI not quote name. (Kota): It means the charge level­ led by the hon. Member is wrong. SHRI RAJNATH SONKAR SHRI RAJNATH SONKAR SHASTRI : After his appointment SHASTRI: The case pertained to that Manager continued to draw his ( )* He has said that he did salary for five to six months without not appoint that fellow. Yet the attending office and when this matter hon. Minister should look into it as came to light, the other officers stat­ that fellow is corrupt. ed that his appointment had been made by Shri Jaffer Sharief. Though Shri Jaffer Sharief refuted this charge [Translation] by saying that he did not know any­ thing about his appointment. And Mr. Chairman, Sir, I will take two that fellow was transferred. But this or three minutes more. There is is a matter of surprise that he has wide-spread corruption in the cater­ assumed the office of Minister again ing Department at Varanasi. I would and that the same fellow is still re­ like to mention one of the examples taining that higher post. He was regarding corruption. Three groups posted <£»rlier at Allahabad and now of fruit vendors were operating at *£fot recorded. 257 Rly. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dent, for Grants 258 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

Varanasi Railway Station. The Jakhanian and Daullahapur. These concerned officials had found that the people had got a lot of facility. These contractors belonging to two of there people got trains for Varanasi throug- groups were corrupt and hence their out the day from morning to evening. contracts were terminated. But two But after the introduction of broad contracts were revived later on with­ gauge trains, the people of Jakhanian, out the sanction of the Chief Com­ Sadat and Duilahapur are facing a lot mercial Superintendent or his office. of difficulties. There is no train One contract has not been awarded available to them. so far. There is provision for sale of miscellaneous articles. There are four or five vending contractors each at the Railway stations of Mugalsarai, Sir, I would like to submit that no Allahabad, Lucknow and even at express train is available from Jalal- Kanpur, but only one currupt indi­ pur station, which is gateway to Vara­ vidual has been awarded all the ven­ nasi, Jaunpur and Lucknow. A stop­ ding contracts at Varanasi. When page of Varuna Express should be I drew the attention of Shri Mallikar- provided there. Lastly I would jun to it, he said that he was looking like to submit that Jaunpur is an after catering. Sir, I am handing important station. A yard has been over to you the relevant papers. It constructed there after spending lakhs is necessary to root out corruption of rupees, but Bombay Mail has there. not been provided a stoppage there. Washing of trains is also undertaken there. There is no catering arrange­ ment in the ‘Sharamjivi Express’. 1 will resume my seat after making D.L.W., Varanasi is a big establish­ my last point. llie ticket examiners ment, but it has become a den of are not recognised as running staff corruption. There are irregularities although they were included in the in approintments. Public money to category of running staff before 1947. the time of billions of rupees has What was their fault? The Briti­ been invested in the D.L.W., but offi­ shers charged them with helping the cials are indulging in gross irregulari­ freedom fighters and thus they were ties. The Minister should kindly excluded from the category of run­ look into it also. In my constituen­ ning staff and this position is obtain­ cy, Sidhauna halt has been closed ing even today. This is a serious long back. It may kindly be re­ matter of great consequence. I would opened. like to draw your attention to this matter. [English]

Sir, the work of gauge conversion SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA on Varanasi-Bhatni, Varanasi-Chha- (Bankura): Mr. Chairman Sir, I thank pra lines has been going on for the you for giving me this opportunity to last ten years. The gauge conver­ speak on the Railway Budget. sion work on Varanasi Bhatni line has been completed somehow, but work on Varanasi-Chhapra line is yet to be completed. I would request the Sir. tills Budget has been prepared hon. Minister to get this work com­ as per the directions of the Inter­ pleted early. Secondly, before the national Monetary Fund for which gauge conversion on Varanasi-Bhatni enough indications are there. And line, the trains of metre gauge line because of this direction, a decision were running providing transportation has been taken to privatise some of facilities to lakhs of people of Sadat, the sections of the Railways, particu- 259 Rly. Budget , 1991-92 - JULY 25, 1991 for Grants 260 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sfc* Basu Deb Acharia] is also electrified, then Howrah—Mad­ ras route will be electrified comple­ larly, catering section, engineering tely. section and conservancy department. We oppose this move of Railways if Similarly, Bandel—Katwa electrifi­ any department of the Railways will cation work was demanded in this be privatised by the direction of the House a number of times. With re-; International Monetary Fund. There gard to Agra-Midnapore line, Agra " is also a move to reduce the strength Kharagpur section should he electri­ of the Indian Railways. Indian Rail­ fied...... ways was once the biggest employer which used to employ about one lakh SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: of unemployed youth. Now, this big­ How do I carry out all this work, if gest employer has taken a decision to you oppose my Budget? reduce its existing staff and employees. SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: Sir, 1 oppose the hike in fare and 1 am coming to the resource mobili­ freight rates which is stiff. sation because we are all one on re­ source mobilisation. The Planning There is no expansion work. Con­ Commission will have to find resour­ struction of new lines or gauge con­ ces. You cannot always tax the poor version is also not there. Even the passengers. You have to spare them programme for electrification has been and find out some other ways and slashed. means for raising your resources.

A decision was taken long back in 1 have just now mentioned that a the year 1973 to phase out all the decision was taken to phase out the steam locomotives and to speed up steam locomotives and to close down the electrification work in the Indian all the steam locosheds. There are a Railways. Since then, the production number of workers engaged in the of steam locomotives was stopped. A steam locosheds. They are called the programme was taken up to phase coal and ash handling workers. out steam locomotives and by the end Though they are on contract work, of this century, all the steam locomo­ they are doing perennial nature of tives would be eliminated. But till the work, for the last 20 to 25 years. They end of the Seventh Five Year Plan mostly belong to the Scheduled Castes and till the end of the last financial and Scheduled Tribes. There are year, only onMenth of the route kilo­ hardly 5,000 such workers left now. metres of Iniiiau Railways is electri­ When all the steam locomotives are fied. Also, not a single kilometre, of eliminated and all the steam locosheds metre gauge traction has been electri­ are closed, all these workers who be­ fied so far. long to the weaker sections of our society and whose work is of a peren­ nial nature, will be thrown out of em­ There is a need for electrification ployment. At least their absorption of at least important routes in the into the Railways should be consider­ Indian Railways. But in the current ed. In the year 1990-91, there was a year’s Budget, we do not find any report as to how many workers would such programme. Such programmes be left and how many would be are not likely to be taken up in the thrown out of employment. As per near future also. I would like to men­ the report, there are as many as 4,000 tion about the Howrah-Madras line to 5,000 workers. Many of them have which is a very important route, via already surpassed the age also. So, the Kharagpur and Vijayawada. Upto Railway Minister should consider this Kharagpur, the line is electrified. If section of workers also, who belong the KJ&ragpur—Vijayawada section to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled 261 Rly.-Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 262 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys ), 1991-92

Tribe community. When steam loco­ Sir, the Railway Protection Force motives will be eliminated and steam had their Association but this right to loco sheds will be closed down then form Association was withdrawn by they will be sent out of the employ­ an Act enacted by this House in the ment. Then the problem of reinstate­ year 1987. In both the cases, Shri ment will come. Janeshwar Mishra stated in this very House and I would like to refer to his speech: Sir, a case was very vociferously raised in this House a number of [Translation] times. One is about the reinstatement of the victimised workers and ano­ “MR. SPEAKER, Sir, the Govern­ ther is about giving recognition to ment has taken a decision, particularly unions of the Railways. Sir, these in case of R.P.F. Association, as al­ workers were dismissed in the year ready stated by me.” 1981 for their participation in a strike. Ih 1973 there was an agreement to reduce duty hours to ten hours. [English] Though there was an agreement in this regard but that agreement was not I have got a letter from Shri Janesh­ implemented. Then they had to go on war Mishra written to Shri Kumara» strike. Hundreds of workers were dis­ mangalam who is now a Member of missed. They are still out of jobs. the Council of Ministers.

He wrote to Shri Kumaramangalam. “Please refer to your letter dated : There were a number of judgements 25-2-91 regarding an indefinite hun­ by the Central Industrial Administra­ ger strike on 27th February, 1991 tive Tribunal in favour of these dis­ at 11 A.M. for restoration of reco­ missed workers. Central Industrial gnition to Railway Protection Force Administrative Tribunal opposed the Association. As you are already dismissal order passed by the Railway aware, during discussion with you, Administration but in spite of that I have indicated the Government’s these workers were not reinstated. The sincere concern about the demand former Railway Minister Shri George of the said Association. Tt has been Fernandes issued a very categorical decided to grant recognition to the and unambiguous order to reinstate Association subject to the prescri­ these workers on 8th September, 1990. bed formalities. In view of this Then a Statement was also issued on decision, you will agfee that there 22nd November, 1990 but that order is no need to go on any fast as con­ was not implemented. This issue was templated. raised in this very House by all sec­ tions of the House and we demanded that the victimised dismissed railway I would therefore request you to employees should be ieinstated. Shri kindly co-operate with us in this Janeshwar Mishra was then the Rail­ matter. way Minister. He also made a State­ ment and assured that these workers With regards. would be reinstated. I have got a copy of the proceedings-of the House dated Sincerely, 22nd February, 1991 wherein Shri Janeshwar. Mishra has commented on Sd/- the reinstatement of these victimised (JANESHWAR MISHRA)’9 workers and also about giving reco^ gnition to Railway Protection Force MR. CHAIRMAiN: Twould request Association. you to co-operate with me also. 263 Rly. Budget , 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 264 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: all the demands today or some of This is what he had said on the floor them be left for that day also. (Inter­ of this House. ruptions) Thus, we think that these will be considered on 5 th when there [Translation] would be a discussion on Railway budget ...... (Interruptions) I have already stated the decision [English] taken by the Government in the mat­ ter. As regards the employees dismis­ sed during the last agitation, my col­ SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: league Shri George Fernandes has This was done on 6th and not on 5th. already said that as the Railway So, on 6th, he came and made a very Minister, he had issued orders to re­ categorical statement that those victi­ instate them. He had also placed the mised workers would be reinstated. matter before the Cabinet and the He made this statement on the floor Cabinet had also given its approval to of the House. I would like to know it. when it was bowing out. Therefore, from the hon. Minister what he is the President directed that the deci­ going to do regarding the decision sions taken by that Government just taken by the previous Ministry on the before quitting should be reviewed by recognition of the RPF Association the new government. The then Prime and also on the reinstatement of victi­ Minister, Shri V. P. Singh rescinded mised or dismissed railway employees that decision of the Cabinet. When we in the year 198!. May I know whe­ enquired from the officials about the ther they will be reinstated or not. non-implementation of that particular decision, they told us that as the Sir, 1 also thank the hon. Minister B.J.P. had withdrawn its support to for giving some amout to facilitate the government on the day this deci­ the introduction of Dhanbad-Tatana- sion had been approved by the Cabi- gar Express. net, the tenure of that government was virtually over. I thank the Minister for this. There is one important line for conversion SHRI TEJSINGHRAO BHONSLE from narrow-gauge in to broad-gauge. (Ramtek): Mr. Chairman, Sir, he has Purlia is one of the backward districts to speak on the Railway Budget and of our country where a majority of he has come with a written speech. the people belong to SC & ST com­ He is reading his speech. He should munity. There is a Purlia-Kotshila 31 be asked not to read his speech. This km narrow-gauge line. A demand was is my point of order. made for its conversion into broad- gauge long back. I have been making this demand since 1980. Only Rs. 7 [English] crores are required for its conversion. MR. CHAIRMAN: There is no Why can you not make a provision point of order. for its conversion in this Budget? If you convert this line into broad-gauge, [Translation] then Purlia will be connected with Bokaro with the result that the eco­ It is going to be a difficult proposi­ nomy of this district will be improved. tion to accept certain demands rela­ ting to workers today in the name of A number of trains have been with­ R.P.F. personnel. drawn. One of them is Hatia-Kharag- pur Fast Express. It was withdrawn These demands would be raised on on the 15th August last yeir. When that day also when interim budget of this train is not being introduced, at Railway is discussed...... (Interrup­ least • Hatia-Howrah Express Train tions} Should we ask them to concede should be introduced. A proposal for 765 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 266 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92 this train has come from the Zonal they do not get reservation for their Railway to divert that train via Adra- journey from Pathankot. I would like Bankura. The hon. Minister can con­ to urge upon the Railway Minister sider that proposal. that the Station Masters of Jwalarau- khi Road, Palampur and Baijnath I again request the hon. Minister to Pathraula stations in the Kangra Val­ reinstate all those railway employees ley should be granted reservation who were dismissed and consider the quota so that the people of Kangra recognition of RPF. and Chamba could get reservation in trains passing through Pathankot.

![Translation] Only one Express train is running in the Kangra Valiev. One train which SHRI D. D. KHANORIA (Kan- may be named as Dhauladhar Express gra): Mr. Chairman. Sir, T would like may be introduced so as to facilitate to draw the attention of the Railway movement of people. Minister towards Himachal Pradesh. There are two railway tracks of about Generally people travel by buses in 300 Kms. in length in Himachal Pra­ Himachal Pradesh, but in the absence desh. Both of them had been cons­ of Railway crossings, smooth flow of tructed before 1930. One railway track road traffic is hindered. I request the is from Kalka to Shimla and the other Railway Minister that railway cros­ is from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar. sings should be constructed at all such During the period of 44 years after places wherever such a demand has Independence, only 10 kms: of rail­ been made. 1 would write to the Rail­ way line from Nangal to Una has way Minister about it. been constructed. According to the provision in this budget, about There is a narrow-gauge line fiom 105 kms. of railway line from Una to Pathankot to Joginder Nagar which Talwara has to be constructed. No should be extended upto Kullu so that work has been undertaken on it till the people of Kullu and Mandi Dis­ date. During the current year, a pro­ tricts could get the benefit of railway vision of two crores of rupees has facility. I would like to tell the hon. been made in the present railway bud­ Railway Minister that there are places get and with this amount hardly 5 or in Himachal Pradesh where people 10 kms. of railway track can be cons­ have not even seen a Railway train or tructed in the hilly area of Himachal a railway engine. I would like to sub­ Pradesh. I request the hon. Minister mit to the hon. Minister that he should to increase this provision in the bud­ pay his attention to this matter and get so that railway track from Una to maximum length of railway track Talwara could be constructed at the should be laid there. earliest. There is a narrow-gauge line from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar via Kangra. Approximately ten lakh peo­ The distance from Kalka to Parva- ple of Kangra and Chamba region noo is only two kms. Parvanoo is an who travel to places -cutside the State industrial and marketing centre of have been provided reservation faci­ Himachal Pradesh. Goods are trans­ lity from Jammu-Tawi. which is ported from there to other parts. 200 kms. away from Kangra. In addi­ Traders have to soend a tidv ?um on tion about 75,000 personnel of the transoortation of their goods for this armed forces also get reservation from distance of just 2 kms T t1--before, there and if they entrain from Pathan­ request the Railway Minister that a kot, they do not get any reservation. brood-sauge line of 2 kms. length Some passengers have to face a lot from Katkn to Parvanoo may please of difficulty when they have to travel be laid so as to facilitate movement in the iower class compartments as of their goods. One through carriage 18—14 LSS/ND/91 267 JMjv. Budget , 1991-92 JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 268 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1994-92

(Sh; D. D. Khanoria] commuters are travelling by Express or Mail trains because of the increas­ from Pathankot to Kalka may be at­ ed social and economic mobility in tached with any train whether Kash­ modem life. So, I feel that the in­ mir Mail or any other train for the crease in Express and Mail II Class £teQp& of Kangra and Charnba, who rates would affect the ordinary com­ ha*e to visit Shimla so that people muters to a very large extent. are provided a direct rail link to Shimla. The impost of increase on upper classes can be appreciated because There is no lighting arrangement that would affect only company exe­ at Railway Stations in Himachal Pra­ cutives, businessmen, and top officers, desh. Though platforms are there, yet and others whose expenses are ulti­ the& is no light, there is no facility mately reimbursed by the tax-payer ©f drinking water, and there are no and consumer. canteens. I would request the Rail­ way Minister that passenger amenities such as lighting, drinking water and The general funds from the General canteen may please be provided at Budget may not be sufficiently sup­ these railway stations. I have to say portive of the heavy demands of the this much only. I hope that Railway Railways. The Railways have to Minister will look into these matters raise their own resources. That is well and good. But that is no justifica­ and with these words, 1 thank you tion for the increase. The increase very much. of Rs. 11 per head per year in freight rate cannot be justified in a country [English] like India where 47 per cent of the people are poor. The revenue earn­ SHRI PALA K. M. MATHEW ing freight traffic aggregated to 318 (Idukki): I rise to support the basic million tonnes as against the revised approach and the content of the Rail­ target of 316 million tonnes. This way Budget. By and large, I feel that shows that the Railways are on their this is a very reasonable Budget for own and could be comfortable with­ which I congratulate the hon. Rail­ out squeezing the ordinarv passengers. way Minister. These increases add fuel to the in­ ferno of inflation. Even the conces­ Jn the grim economic * situation sion ort exemption on certain essen­ prevalent in the country one naturally tial commodities will not produce any expected that this Railway Budget softening result as expected because would be heavily burdensome. But it of the compulsions of prevalent gene­ is less harsh than anticipated. ral economic situation in the country. And that will create chain reactions I would like the hon.* Minister to on prices, which will be naturally take note of a few things which I enhanced. would suggest. Because of paucity of time I want to coniine myself only The severe hikes for the mobilisa­ to the. essential points. One danger tion of resources could have been Inherent in the Railway Budget avoided by stepping up (1) operational Js that shortly it may turn into efficiency. (2) cost control. (3) nroduc- $ bitter dose because of the very seri- tivitv and other (4) fiscal and struc­ aus consequences of devaluation' and tural measures. also the Budget presented yesterday. Sir. there is only meagre increase The Budget would have been hear­ in the fares of the ordinary passenger tily welcomed by all if firm steps trains. But there is a steep increase had been taken to renew (1) aeina m the fanes of ' Express and Mail rolling stocks; (2) speed-up saufce trains Majority of the ordinary conversion (3) expedite electrification; 269 Rly. Budget, 1991-92--SRAVANA3, 1913(54*4) Dem. for Grants 270 Gen. Discussion & (Blys.), 1991-92

(4) improve passenger amenities; (5) cities soon because of the on-coming ensure punctuality; ( 6) modernisation thermal power station. of old dilapidated coaches; ( 7) extend and expand more lines to States like Kerala: (8) end corruption; and (9) 1 request that works on AUeppy— effect a decline in the ratio of their Kayamkulam be completed quickly operating expenses to earnings. and Kayamkulam—Quilon, Quiten— Trivandrum and Shornur-Mangatere Sir, 1 take very strong exception to be taken up without delay. the way in which Kerala has been treated in this Budget. I would con­ I request the Railway Minister to clude by saying a few words. sanction the following lines and pro­ jects at the earliest: Kerala is mainly a consumer State depending on other States for the im­ 1. Angamaly - Kumaly - Madurai port of various manufactured articles. railway through the middle of Therefore, the transportation prob­ idukki District. lem in Kerala is comparatively far more acute. 2. Angamaly - Pathanamthitta Ranny Hill railway to Achen- No new lines are provided for coil. Kerala. There is a provision only for completing the Alleppey—Kayam- 3. Kottayam - Sabarimala railway. kulam and Trichur—Guruvayoor line. There is nothing for the Malabar 4. Extension of Bombay - Kon- area. kan railway upto Angamaly. And only very little fund is allo­ 5. One more Kerala-Delhi train cated for doubling lines in Kerala. daily. For Quilon—Trivandrum doubling, 6. Electrification of Erode-Trivan- Rs. 70 crores are required, but Rs. 5.5 drum line. crores only is set apart. No outlay is made for Kayamkulam—Trivand­ rum doubling. An expert committee has already re­ commended this electrification. Kerala has offered concessional power tariff Though doubling between Kayam- also for this Rs. 126 crore project. kulam and Quilon has been proposed in 1989-90 Budget at an estimated cost of Rs. 34 crore, the outlay pro­ The amenities in the dirty, dilapi­ posed was only Rs. 1 crore. Nothing dated coaches running through Kerala more is provided for in the Budget. must be radically improved. Qne No allocation is found for the much- must travel from Trivandrum to needed doubling of the 307 km. Cannanore to see the wretched condi­ Shornur—Mangalore line. tion of the trains and of the poet commuters. All these must be recti­ fied within a time bound -programme. Doubling-of the 40 km. Kayamku- lam-—Trivandrum line must be com­ pleted without further delay. i also suggest that free passes be issued to all the ex-MPs without any discrimination relating to the length The' Ernakulam—7Alleppey Quilon of time which they have served or Coastal railway line ancf the’ Ernaku- any other discrimination. lam -Kottayam—Quilon central line* should* not be considered as double lines or. parallel, lines. Both of these MR CHAIRMAN: Your predeces­ should be. doubled, separately. . Kay- sor; had ‘ announced that ex-MPs amiulam has to be linked to major would be provided free passes. 271 My. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 272 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys ), 1991-92

SHRI PALA K. M. MATHEW: 1 Dam and lalwana, Rs. 17.20 crorc also suggest that the freight on milk for a line between Jammu Tawi carried by railways should be given and Udhampur and another Rs. 2 up. The proposal to privatise scav­ crore for a line between beas and enging in the railways should also be Goindwal. given up because that affects the poor. interestingly, not a single project With these comments and sugges­ on electrification finds mention in tions 1 congratulate the Railway Mini­ the budget proposals for the north­ ster for bringing such a good Budget ern region although a provision of and I support the Budget. Rs. 235 crore has been made during this year. The only project that SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA has been mentioned pertains to the (Kamal): In the face of tragedy that Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana section is being enacted 1 long held my peace. whose estimated cost is Rs. 136 But now the growing sense of indig­ crore. The Railways has allocated nation nay responsibility towards the a meagre sum of Rs. 241 crore for people I represent has impelled me this electrification project. at last to open my lips and to lay According to Railway Ministry before this House certain views officials, most of the projects have which have long been crying for gone to southern states in general, utterance. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in 1 stand here to support the Rail­ particular, and Maharashtra and way Budget. But at the same time, central India. While the Prime I must say that in the matter of allo­ Minister hails from Andhra Pra­ cation northern region is being com­ desh, the Railway Minister repre­ pletely ignored for reasons not known. sents Karnataka. The two other Yesterday, while the Finance Minis­ heavyweights—Mr. Arjun Singh, ter was delivering his speech at the Union Human Resources Develop­ fag end he has made an observation ment Minister, and Mr. Sharad that he would look at the editorials Pawar, Defence Minister—belong to of the press. central India and Maharashtra, respectively.

15.00 hrs. Of the 34 new lines, 20 relate to VIP areas and States. The remain­ Sir, I am making a reference on this ing 14 lines which fall in other re­ very topic ‘Northern region ignored’ : gions have got small tracks and meagre funds. No doubt, the c‘Of the 34 new lines, gauge conver­ North-Eastern Frontier Railway sions and doubling of tracks pro­ has also got eight lines and Rs. 70 posed in the budget, only three per­ crore but this is largely due to de­ tain to the Northern Railway with fence requirements and pressure of bulk of investment and develop­ circumstances.” ment going to central India and Simply because we do not find any southern states. representation in the Cabinet, our rights should not be ignored at least According to these proposals, of in the matter of development. I have Ru. 910 crore to be spent during quoted the press report in this regard. the current financial year for new T would submit that this discrimina­ lines, doubling conversion and elec­ tion, this injustice must be undone by trification. the northern region’s giving concrete and positive relief to share is less than 5 per cent. It is the people in the Northern Region. stated that a provision of Rs. 2 crore has been made for laying a Another thing which I would like broad gauge line between Nangal to remind the hon. Minister is that his 273 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- - SRAVANA 3, 1913 Dem. for Grants 274 Gen. Discussion & (Riys.), 1991-92

redecesor, Shri Janeshwar Mishra, a false complaint and he was sent Ead made a categorical and positive from Nilokheri to Tughlakabad. It statement on the floor of the House was for this purpose that I wanted that railway passes would be given to to talk to that officer. We do not want ex-Mcmbers of Parliament. I do not any favour to be showered upon us. want to repeat it time and again. We do not beg anything from them. Members of so many parties have al­ But certainly we have a right to re­ ready stressed on this point. 1 request present the people and to ventilate the Railway Minister that he must their grievances. 1 would also talk honour the commitment and respect to you personally, Sir. It will not be the assurance given by his prede­ in the fitness of things for me to cessor. name that particular officer. I wish to remind him that I have been a Minister myself and I know how the 1§« 03 his, Government is run. This bureaucra­ tic approach of the officers must [SHR1MATI MALINI BHATTA- change, this behaviour of theirs must CHARYA in the Chair] change and they should know that the Members of Parliament are represent­ Thirdly, 1 would like to say that atives of the people. They have the some senior officers give shabby treat­ right to ventilate the grievances of ment to Members of Parliament who the people and are here to help in represent lakhs of people. I say this redressal of their grievances. They from my own personal experience. I are officers and they must hear with do not think it proper to name that an open mind. particular officer. I want to mention here one incident. A Class-IV of my constituency was transferred from Madam Chairman, Delhi is over­ Nilokheri to Tughlakabad, for no crowded. This is the capital of the fault of his. He came to me for gett­ country. All offices of the Central ing his transfer cancelled. 1 tried to Government are located here. Not contact the senior officer on telephone thousands but lakhs of people are daily for two days—not once, not twice, not passengers from all sides—from thrice, not four times, but eleven Palwal side, from U.P. side, from times and every time the reply was Rohtak side, from Gurgaon side, that he had gone to the Railway from Faridabad side, from Karnal- Board or that he was busy in the Sonepat side—and you know the diffi­ meeting or that he had not come and culties they are facing. They do not so on. When T rang up, T was asked find proper trains. I am talking of as to who was calling? I disclosed Jhelum Express which runs between my identity and then after a jiffy I Delhi and Jammu Tawi. I travel by was told that the officer had gone this train from my constituency to here and there. Are we beggers? We Delhi every now and then and I know are not beggers. We represent laklv the fate of the daily passengers. This of people. We can expose such offi­ train has eighteen bogies. Two are cers by naming them not only here occupied by armymen. They are not on the floor of the House but also in to be disturbed. Two are A.C. Slee­ the public. These bureaucrats are not per coaches. Most of the remaining gods in the shape of men as^ to feed ones are three-tier. Long journey every individual bom on this earth. passengers are there. If a commuter We do not beg anything from them. enters that compartment he is charg­ We have a right to ventilate the grie­ ed Rs. 800 to Rs. L000 as penalty vances of the people we represent. which is too much. If two more Shall I write to the hon. Minister for bogies are attached to this train, that the grievance of a Cfass-IV employee? is, the Jhelum Express, this will give He says he was on Territorial Arm'7 a sood relief to the commuters tra­ duty to Ludhiana. His A.S.M. made velling on that line. 2?5 Rly. Budget , 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Gmnts 276 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. Chiranji Lai Sharma] Karnal? So, I would request the hoi. Minister to remove this discrimination: Punctuality in the running of trains People rebuke me. People rebuke me is very much lacking. 1 make a spe­ saying that: “Panditji, you are repre­ cial reference of Moori Express. This senting the constituency consecutively Moori Express is religiously late, not once in a week but eight times in a for the fourth term and you cannot week. It is never in time. This have even this much done for us?’? train is known as Moori Express but Many times I travel by train. When­ it is worse than a passenger train. ever I travel by train, I am surroun­ I would request the hon. Minister to ded by my voters and supporters who institute an inquiry into the reasons mention about their grievances. I as to why it has become the practice would request the Hon’ble Minister to of the runners of this train to run it kindly order for the stoppage of this late. Trains are running late not by train at Karnal. We may write any one hour or two hours but sometimes number of letters; but the reply that by twelve hours. I have had a per­ comes is: “The matter is being looked sonal experiences several times. I into ’. And after a couple of months rang up the Railway enquiry the reply received is: “Sorry, this No 131 and asked about Morri cannot be done”. It is wisely said Express. They said. Sir. it is that courtesy costs nothing. I reite­ coming a bit late, just by half an rate that when stoppage is being pro­ hour. " I went to the railway station vided at smaller stations, stoppage at and found that the train was to come Karnal should also be provided. This after three hours. This is how the will tantamount to extending courtesy information is made available to us. to the people of Karnal. i.e. the Members of Parliament. 1 said: gentleman, you should have told I would now come to Ekta Express it over telephone. He said: “Well, 1 and Unchahar Express which are ex­ am not to be blamed. This is the in­ press trains running between Delhi formation that was received and now Ambala and Kulka also. Stoppage it is coming late by about three for Ekta Express should be provided hours:’ This is what I experienced at Samalkha, Gharonda and Nilokheri personally. This practice of late stations. Stoppage for this train has running of trains has to be deprecated recently been provided at smaller and discouraged, and punctuality must stations like Shahabad, Markanda etc. be observed. I have been crying hoarse about this and making representations to the Sir. 1 invite your attention to concerned authorities. If it is not pos­ another instan :e of discrimination to­ sible and practicable, because Ekta wards me and my constituency head­ Express has just to reach Chandigarh quarter. The Amritsar Superfast which at 10.15 A.M., then Unchahar Ex- leaves Delhi at 2.20 p.m. It stops press may be provided stoppage at at Sonepat which is about 27 miles Samalkha, Gharonda and Niiokheri from here, it stops at Panipat which because this train goes to Ambala and is about 50 miles from here and it 1 hen-stays there for the whole day. also stops at Kurukshetra. Kurushetra This can certainly provided some; re­ and Panipat used to be Tehsils of lief for the commuters. Karnal district. It stops even at Raj- pura which is a Sub-Divisional Head­ MR. CHAIRMAN: Please wind quarters. Karnal is the only railway up._ station, a district headquarters with a population of about two lakhs, where SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA : it does not halt. I find no justifica­ Madam, with due apology and with all tion in this. When it can §top at a humility I request that I may be aflow;’ distance of 27 miles from .Delhi, that ed to say a few words pertaining to is, at Sonepat, why £an’t it stop at my constituency. 277 Rly. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 278 Gen. Discussion & (RIys.), 1991-92

MR. CHAIRMAN: Be brief. I then come to the issue of level crossing. There is an old manned level crossing at Taraori, which is a historic SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA: place, on the Northern Railway. The Jammu Tawi Super fast is another manned railway crossing is very old. which was introduced about a year I request that the modem system back which leaves Delhi in the morn­ should be introduced and the old rail­ ing. There is another train that goes way gate removed and the road widen­ to Jammu Tawi at night. Vaishno ed for easy traffic. I now come to the Devi temple is very well known. Hun­ issue of reservation of berths. dreds of pilgrims visit this place and can board this train at Kamal. 1 would, therefore, request the Hon’ble SHRI AMAL DATTA (Diamond Minister that Jammu Tawi Super fast Harbour): The Railway Minister is should also be provided stoppage at not here. Kamal. People hardly get seats in the train leaving at night. THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNI­ CATIONS (SHRI RAJESH PILOT): The 1-DU train is a passenger train I am noting down the points. which may please be provided diesel engine. The 2-DU train running bet­ SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA: ween Delhi and Ambala takes a lot I request the Railway Minister that of time to reach Delhi because it stops reservation of at least 4/6 berths for fifty minutes at Panipat and for should be provided at Kamal and another one hour at Sonepat. If the Panipat stations for the long distance running time can be cut short, it will trains like Dadar Express, Jhelum Ex­ certiinly giev a big relief to the Delhi- press. Deluxe etc. bound passengers and those who shut­ tle between Panipat, Kamal and Delhi. MR. CHAIRMAN: There are Members of some parties who have I' now come to the difficulties being not spoken at all. T request the Hon’ faced by the pass-holders that is ble Member to wind up. Monthly Season Ticket holders. It was only three days back that I was SHRI CHIRANJI LAL SHARMA: travelling by a passenger train. Pur­ I have not spoken during the last posely I went by that train. When the two-three years on Railway Budget. train stopped at Gharonda station, (Interruptions) I do not know T was about two hundred people came and called so late, and I anticipated that as complained to me that: “Panditji. and when I speak,there will be a bell p&sses are not being issued by the from the Chair asking me to wind Railway staff”. I called the Assistance up. So, I will take only one minute. Station Master and enquired about the matter, He said that they were MR. CHAIRMAN: No, no. Cer­ nor telling the truth. I then asked tainly: Sir, th

SHRI H. D. DEVEGOWDA (Has- I want to tell the House how elec­ san): Madam Chairman, I know the trification of routes has been ignored constraint of the time. So, I do not in Karnataka. So far as electrification want to elaborate on the Railway is concerned, I want to draw the atten* Budget, but I want to draw the atten­ tion of this House to the fact that not tion of the august House to the fact even a single kilometre has been elec­ that one of the senior Members while trified in Karnataka whereas in Tamil he was speaking in the House quoted Nadu—I have no jealousy, I do not an Editorial of a paper where it was want to have any grouse for the deve­ mentioned that Karnataka has been lopment that is going to take place shown favouritism because Minister in Tamil Nadu, but my grouse is that coming from Karnataka State was not even a single kilometre of elec­ responsible for such favouritism. In trification has been done in Karna­ this connection, I would like to draw taka. Why is there such a discrimi­ the attention of this House to show nation? Mr. Minister, I know even how Karnataka has been treated vary though you are capable enough to deal shabbily and how step-motherly treat­ with the matter, unfortunately the cir­ ment has been given to Karnataka. Ia cumstances now might not have help­ all the seven Plans after Independence, ed you t/> solve these problems. about Rs. 28,000 crores has been spent for the development of railways. Sir, from Madras to Jolarpet electri­ About the achievement of railway fication has been completed, from route in kilometres, for 10,000 kilo­ Madras to Trichy it has been done, metres area, the national average is from Madras to Vijayawada it has 89.70. whereas in respect of Karnataka been done, from Jolarpet to Salem the it is 24.30, in respect of Kerala it is work of electrification has been taken 140.00 and in Andhra Pradesh it is up now. But why not from Jolarpet about 105.10. I am onlv quoting these to Bangalore? Is Bangalore not an figures in respect of Southern ^ States important place? Has it not found a to show how Karnataka has been dis­ place in the railway map of India? criminated, how it has been treated shabbily and how step-motherlv So far as electrification is concern­ treatment has been given to it so far ed. in all the seven plans there is an as the railway development there is achievement of about 10,000 kilo­ concerned. (Interruptions) The Minis­ metres electrification, but unfortuna­ ter is there. I know the canacitv of the tely in Karnataka not even a single Minister. I know he is a capable Mini­ kilometre of electrification has been ster, but unfortunately the circum­ done. stances have not helped him to take anv step towards the development of So far as the industrial development railways in Karnataka. We have given of Mysore is concerned, the credit five Railway Ministers from Karna­ goes to late Shri Devaraj Urs. Now, I taka. But unfortunately the State would request the hon. Minister to of Karnataka has been totally neglect­ include electrification projects from ed. Nowadays there is a separatist Jolarpet to Bangalore and Bangalore tendency from the federal structure. to Mysore in the Eighth Five Year This type of step-motherly treatment Plan. I am saying that the metre is the root cause of all these things. I frauge line from Goribidnu to Banga­ am sorry T do not want to make anv lore have been converted into broad remarks on this issue. Yon must Kamrup Express, Kanchen Junga Express. NE CHAIRMAN: The hon. Mini­ Express, Tin Sukia Mail you will find ster ha s agreed to speakat4.00 p.m. new icfcachds; 10—14 LSS/NO/91 283 Rly. Budget , 1991*92— JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants284 Ggtf. Discussion d (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. Amar Roypradhan] Behar, it is: a most night about'4 A M. That means, you will have to sjjeod Regarding punctuality of train, in the night at the railway station where tlie NF Railway zone, trains are runn­ there are no facilities and amenities ing late from two hours to twentiv for the passengers. I would, therefore, four hours. The Railway Minister and request the hon. Minister to change his officers speak of speed of the train the time of this Kanchenjunga Express at 130 kms. or 100 kms. per hour. In and at least it should start from New the NF Railway Zone, the Mail or Ex­ Cooch Behar at about 7 A.M. press train run at the average speed of 40 kms. per hour. But you are charg­ ing our people the same rate as it is be­ Regarding Balurghat railway line, ing charged to the people who travel it has'been mentioned and talked abo^jt in the trains at the; speed of 100 kms. many times. This time the hon. Mini­ per hour. Is it justice? We should be ster is kind enough to allot only ashamed of this. Rs. 1,000. If only Rs. 1,000/- is sanc­ tioned, I do not know how much time There is a longstanding demand it will take to complete this project from the NF Railway zone people that It may take 100 or even 1,000 years. let there be a train from New Cooch Shri A. B. A. Ghani Khan Chowdhary, Bihar to Calcutta. This demand has the then Minister for Railway sanc­ com^ not only from my side, not only tioned Rs. 3 crore for this project from Cooch Bihar side but also has and some earth-work has been done. come from the West Bengal Legisla­ But now all this work has been aban­ tive Assembly. It is a unanimous pro­ doned. posal.. It was passed in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. It was not only supported by the CPI(M), I would make a request to the hon. CPL FB and RSP but also by the Minister. You please make a big Congress people of that area. But sign-board and put there the words you did not do anything about it. In that ‘Tn ancient times, there was a the Cooch Bihar area, there are about proposal for construction of a rail­ 2.000 acres of land only with the way line from Eklakhi to Balurghat facility of. terminus and hauling. You by Shri A. B. A. Ghani Khan Chow- can start a pair of trains froirf New dhary. Minister for Railways.” There Cooch Bihar to Calcutta. is a foundation-stone laid by Shri A. B. A. Ghani Khan Chowdhary, ihe At least you have agreed to the then Minister for Railways, Govern­ demand of the North Bengal people ment of India. He is from the Con- for running Kanchenjunga Express gress-I. You put the sign-board and it will be just like a monument for from Sealdah instead of Howrah. But that purpose. I would request the hon. you should know that this train was Minister to please think over the mat­ introduced for the North Bengal Cal­ ter again and do the needful so that cutta passengers. Eklaki and Balurghat railway line may be completed for the benefit of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE Tribe people who are mostly living (Bolpur): . By what time will it start? in that part of the country. It is a backward area. It is within North SHRI AMAR ROYPRADHAN: Bengal, mainly populated by Scheduled That is the»lquestion. It is mainly for Caste and Scheduled Tribe people. the North Bengal people to see that I would request you fervently for it is connected to Calcutta., Now it a railway line for the district head­ has been , extended to Ganhati but quarters df Balarghkt to Eklajft If it wlien^|hk train resuAos Neiif * is not ' tlte peopfe'offhat <285 Rly. Budget, .1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dern. for Grdnts 286 Gen. Discussion & (Rlysj, 1991-92

*will be fed up =with the railway admi­ tourist spots there. Foreigners also nistration. come there. If you come, you will see what great difficulty they are fee­ With these words, I would like to ing because of the single-line. The trains are being delayed; theii:, punc­ oppose the Budget. tuality is totally lost because they have to give the siding for crossing. Every- SHRI SOMNATH CH ATTERJEE time, trains are being delayed. Ade­ (Bolpur): Although that hon. Railway quate number of trains cannot be run. Minister belongs to the Congress This is one-track of railway-line Party, he is a good man and we all where thafe is an Up-train. but no like him. He is very sympathetic, 1 corresponding Down-train is there know. I have got one proposal to because they cannot find timings |0r remind him. That is the proposal for crossing. This is a unique situation. doubling the railway line from Khana The 404-down train is not "running to Sainthia. Junction. This is a very whereas only the 403-Up-train is run­ important part of the Sahibgang Loop. ning. This is a peculiar train. The The whole area, Birbhum district. train runs only on one side. This is Western part of West Bengal, is serv­ a very serious situation. We have ed by this railway which runs on sin­ been meeting the General Manager. gle line. During Janata Dal, we had We are requesting him every time. A made a denied for survey which has standard reply comes, you know. The been a long-standing proposal. A only thing is that recently there have survey was made. In the survey re­ been agitations like the Rail Roko port, the Railway Minister has strong­ a;ritation and things are happening ly recommended that this line should which we don't want. I have spoken be doubled because it is causing n the Railway Users’ Association and serious inconvenience. I implore the tie Passengers’ Association. They hon. Minister kindly to look into it. are holding patience at my request. I Shri George Fernandes hadassured hive told them that we shall take up us that it will be included in the the matter with the new Government. Eighth Plan. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee Wren I saw Shri Jaffer Sharief has is also very much concerned. This is become the Railway Minister, I said for your kind information. You can that it would be considered sympathe­ also take up the matter with him. He tically—no doubt he is a helpful will support me, I am sure. He be­ honest m m longs to the district of Birbhum. This is a proposal. I earnestly request you Therefore, Mr. Chairman Sir, kindly to consider favourably so that through you, I make' a particular re­ this may be taken up and included in quest to the hon. Railway Minister to the first year of the Eighth Plan. consider my request. There is no Shri Jaffer Sharief, I request you that expansion of the railway system in When you have a little time away from that part of India since Independence. Bangalore, please come with me to What can we do? Unless we have a Shantiniketan, the birth-place of Ta­ Railway Minister from that area, there gore. Have you ever been there? is no new train. One Railway Mini­ ster was there. But be was despatch­ ed unceremoniously. Therefore, I SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: have to approach you. I am sure you Yes. will do the needful. I request you to kindly take this into consideration. SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- JEE: r Good. Please come once Sir, I will take only one minute more. Then you wijl see the difficul­ more. The Kanchenjunga ties that are faced by the coxnmitlers should have a stoppage at GusM^% th&e. ShanJmfkeiaji is one. of the. which k a Municipal Town with a 287 Rly. Budget , 1991-92— JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grant# 288 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. Somnath Chatterjee] span of time. But contains a lot of imbalances and hence I call the population of nearly 80,000 people. Budget as an halt baked bread. I They have no Express Train, Mail find Tamil Nadu is completely neg­ Train which is stopping there. It is lected—in particular Madras City affecting its economic prosperity. which is one of the most important Non-stoppage of train is very serious­ Cities a Metropolitan City is neglect­ ly affecting the area. One-minute ed. The congestion is untold. I re­ stoppage can be given there. quest the hon. Railway Minister to visit Madras City to find out how the Last but not the least ipfabout the people are suffering there. There is Katwa-Bandel Electrification. a peculiar situation in Madras City. [COL. RAO RAM SINGH in the You will find there is only one gate Chair.] for entry and exit. You cannot find this system either in Calcutta of in 1537 hrs* Bombay or in Delhi. There are two gates—one for entry anti the other for MR. CHAIRMAN: Next Shri exit. But in Madras City, there is Anbarasu to speak. only one gate. (Interruptions) Another peculiar situation is, there SHRI YAIMA SINGH YUMNAM are 14 platforms in Madras City. But (Inner Manipur): Sir, I am repre­ you cannot find a connecting foot- senting a party. I have not been given over bridge there. The connecting a chance. foot-over bridge has not been construc­ ted. I think, a survey was conducted MR. CHAIRMAN: All right, I about this project and it was approv­ will give you a chance. ed also. Even I took up this matter (Interruptions) during the last session with the then hon. Minister for Railways. He said SHRI ANBARASU ERA (Madras that some funds would be allotted. Central):. Sir, I rise to support the But I do not know what has happen­ Railway Budget which is under dis­ ed to the project. This project should cussion. But, Sir, I am unable to be taken up immediately for the con­ support it wholeheartedly because I struction of a foot-over bridge con­ find that a large number of hon. Mem­ necting all the 14 platforms and also bers started expressing their grievan­ shifting the parcel office somewhere ces that their region was neglected; else. This is the most needed and no new trains have been introduced; most important thing. funds have not been allotted etc. (In­ terruptions) The Mass Rapid Transit System MR. CHAIRMAN: Please don’t was started in the year 1983 with an interrupt. The names have been given allocation of about Rs. 108 crores. to me by the party, I will call out But for the last seven years, the pro­ those names. If anybody else wants gress has been very very slow. They to speak, if there is time, I will cer­ have only been able to construct the tainly give time. Please don’t inter­ line for about five kilometres. The total stretch of line measures only rupt. about eleven kilometres. They have {Interruptions) not allotted sufficient funds for the completion of this eleven kilometre SHRI ANBARASU ERA: Yet, line. They have been able to com­ Sir, I appreciate the hon. Railway plete the work on only five kilometre Misbter because he was able to sub­ stretch line. In this Budget, Ifind mit this Btidget within the shortest only Rs? 13 crores allocated for ffiis 289 Rly. Budget , 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 290 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys>\ 1991-92 project. I do not know how they will people who visit Sriperumbudur. Of be able to complete this project with course, you may call it a Rajiv Gandhi this Rs. 13 crores. Hence 1 demand special or Rajiv Gandhi Memorial to allot at least Rs. 100 crores. What special or you can give some name I feel is, whatever projects they have to it. I request the hon. Minister to taken up whatever new lines or any implement the construction of a rail­ other project is introduced by the rail­ way line from Madras to Sripertiin- ways, there should be a time-bound budur connecting Kanchipuram to programme. For every project, the cater to the needs of the people. Railway Ministry should have a time- bound programme. Otherwise, there will be many complications like the escalation of price and so many other Sir, I hope our Railway Minister is things come in with the change of aware that there was a big agitation Government and other political in­ in Tamilnadu. When late lamented, terests. Therefore, the Railway Mini­ Shri Rajiv Gandhi, was the Prime stry should have a policy to have a Minister, he inaugurated a Railway time-bound programme for whatever Station at Maraimalai Nagar and he project they want to introduce. For named it as Kamaraj Railway Sta­ Madras City suburban trains are not tion. Though Rajiv Gandhi inaugu­ sufficient. At Bombay suburban rail­ rated it, invitation cards were printed, way systems, there are number of tickets were printed, and we afi parti­ trains to cater to the needs of the cipated in that function, the then suburban people on the same pattern DMK government which was in power of Bombay suburban Railway System had overnight removed the board and and if some more new trains are said the name cannot be changed introduced—for example, from Mad­ without the consent of the State Go­ ras to Avadi, Madras to Tambaram. vernment. Due to politicising the Madras to Thiruvallur, Madras to iss'je, naturally, the Congress Party Chengalpet, and Madras to Kanchi- took up a very big agitation and near­ puram—-this congestion can be very ly one lakh people were arrested. In easily tackled. I, therefore urge fact, I was one of the victims. We upon the hon. Minister to introduce were taken to Central Jail and I was some more suburban trains to cater beaten up and thrown from the Cen­ to the needs of the people. tral Jail. I request the hon. Minister to take up this issue and to re-name Another point which I would like Maraimali Nagar Railway Station to to impress upon the hon. Minister Kamaraj Railway Station. through you is about a new railway line to be introduced upto place call­ ed Sriperumbudur where our late Another point which I would like lamented Prime Minister Shri Rajiv to impress upon the Railway Minister Gandhi was assassinated. This place is that the increase in the second class has become a tourist centre, rathei fare is not justified, whatever may be a pilgrimage centre. I request the the case. I wish you should not hit hon. Minister to make note of this the poor people below their belt. I point that the place Sriperumbudui request you to withdraw the same, where the late lamented leader Shri whether it is a one rupee increase or Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated has fifty paise increase. I request the ho>n. become a tourist and a pilgrimage Minister to withdraw the increase, centre. Everyday at least one thou­ that is contemplated for the second sand people visit this place. There­ class fare. It is my humble request, fore, I demand from the hon. Rail­ Sir. way Minister that there should be a nop railway line from Madras to Srjperu3»budur connecting Kanchi- MR. CHAIRMAN; Please viind puram to cater to the needs of the up. '291 My. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 199.1 Dent, for Grants 292 Gen. Discussion & (RLys.% 1991-92 SHRI ANBARASU ERA: Sir, Mr. Pandian representing Madras in the Railway departments, corrup­ North has told me that Royapuram tion is rampant. God only should over-bridge is not yet completed. I, save the department! In ICF (Inte­ therefore, request that necessary ac­ gral Coach Factory), which is situat­ tion may be taken to complete the ed in my constituency, for recruit­ Royapuram over-bridge, (interrup­ ment to one post of Khcdasi Rs. 25,000 tions) is taken previously. I was told that now they are collecting gold coins. MR. CHAIRMAN: Please wind They are not satisfied with the money up. I would request you to let the and so they are taking gold coins from other Members speak. the poor people. Khatasi post is be­ ing given to those who could give four SHRI ANBARASU ERA; Sir, or five souvenirs. the Tirunelveli Express is just like a goods train. Kindly take note of this. It is like a ventage train. I demand I had a bitter experience. I had that the speed of the Nellai Express forwarded some of my applications to be increased ..( Interruptions)... to the present CPO of the ICF and later on, he had replied to me saying MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Kabin- that'none of them were selected be­ dra Purkayasth. cause everything was computerised. I am not ready to believe these cock SHRI KABINDRA PURKA­ and bull stories. YASTH (Silchar): Mr. Chairman Sir, 1 don’t like to devote my time (Interruptions) on the general discussion. I want to raise the problems of the north east MR CHAIRMAN: Please wind particularly which is ever neglected up. since the independence of the country. Because of this, fragmentation in this SHRI ANBARASU ERA: Who­ region has cropped up threatening ever they want to help, they are mani­ the integrity of the country. pulating everything and they are col­ lecting money. So much bribe is in­ volved in these things, I request the In the budget speech of the hon. hon. Minister either to shift the CPO Railway Minister, he did not mention or a CBI probe should be made any scheme for the north east. In the against the recruitment of Kalasis north east broadgauge has gone upto only Guwahati. It needs to be ex­ and other posts. tended upto Dibrugarh covering the It is a welcoming feature that the whole State. Railway Finance Corporation is going to float debentures certificate or The area from where I have come shares. Further. I would like to sug­ is known as Barak valley. There is gest you to call the industrialists like only one metregauge line, and that Tatas. Birlas and Ambanis and ask also has gone totally to the hilly area them to invest some money. By giv­ covering 150 kms. There are 37 tun­ ing them incentives and by providing nels on the way constructed during income-tax exemption, you should the British regime and they have been try to mobilise the resources from time-barred now. So the trains ate those people. This way let them take running with risk. In that connec­ part in the nation building task; Jet tion there was a demand since long them invest money in this nation for converting this line into a broad- building task. Lack of funds^ cannot guage one. Once in 1986 a survey be an execuse for not introducing new was made by a company named taaaas and^&unchi&g new projects. RITES. They jav* ■■ 293 Rly. Budget, 1991-92— SRAVANA 3,1913 (SAKA) Dem.Jor Grants 294 Gen. Discuss fort & (Rlys.), 1991-92

%&. 644 crores but that was not ac­ There is a junction named Badar- cepted by the Government. This line pur which is connecting all the three connects not only the Barak valley States namely Tripura, Mizoram and but also Mizoram, Tripura and Mani­ Manipur. It is the demand from the pur states. So this is a very strategic people of this valley and other States point of the country. In this respect also that there should be a divisional I demand that the Railway Minister office at Badarpur for the smooth run­ should look into it and this metre- ning of the trains and also for con­ gaugc line which has gone through ducting the railway business there. the hilly sections should be imme­ diately converted into a broadgauge These are the most important de­ line. Pending conversion of this line, mands which I would like to j>lac« if is our demand and it is the demand before the hon. Minister. Consider­ of the people that for the present line ing the present situation prevailing in which is running with risk immediate the north-eastern region, I think, he funds should be allotted for thorough will look into this matter. This is repairs so that the people may travel my appeal to the hon. Railway Mini­ with safety. ster. .

There are only a few trains running SHRI YAIMA SINGH YUMNAKf in this line and only two trains are (Inner Manipur): . Si*, I rise only Jo running from Silchar to Guwahati. urge the Government to think serious­ Out of that one train, Kachar Ex­ ly of connecting Imphal, the Capita) press was suspended during the of Manipur with a railway line. It month of April due to floods and is in the remotest place of this coun­ that has not yet been restarted. I try—in the eastern part of the coun­ Wish to draw the attention of the try—bordering with Burma which is hon. Railway Minister to pass orders a foreign country. for running Kachar Express imme­ diately. MR. CHAIRMAN The hon. Railway Minister has kindly agreed One train runs upto Tripura State to extend the time for this discussion. and this train runs from Kumarghat Now, he will reply at 4^30 p.m. So, to Lunding. It is also our demand I request the Members not to take that this should be extended upto Gu­ more than four to five minutes each. wahati so that directly a person can travel from Tripura to Guwahati. SHRI YAIMA SINGH YUM- NAM: While requesting the Go­ vernment to connect Imphal with a In Barak valley there are several railway line, I would like to make a small lines. In those lines trains are few points. not running properly and regularly. One line is there from Karimganj to Firstly, the scenic beauty of the Dullabcherra and that train has been State was described by our beloved suspended for reasons not known to Prime Minister, Shri Nehru. When us. In other lines also trains are not he visited Manipur for the first time, running properly and regularly. So he said that it is a ‘Jewel erf India5. I draw the attention of the Railway It is on the record. Subsequently, Minister to look into these matters when he again visited Manipur, he promptly. described it as ‘a granary of India’. That was with reference to the paddy There is a public demand that produced in that area in large quanti­ Karimganj to . Dullabcherra line be ties. Again, Manipur was described upto Rampur which covers as th& ‘Kashmir in the Etst> by him. thfc'cotfte tribalani backward area.So* this scenic beauty erf tfo Stale m Rly. Budget, 1991-92~ JULY 25, 1991 Denu for Grants m Gen. Discussion & {Rlys.% 1991-92

[SkYaim aSingh Yumnam] is a day’s journey. We haveto reach Dimapur and from that place, we has been denied to the people in the have to take a train. The passengers rest of the country because of the in­ have to book their seats at Out-Agency convenience in coming to tiiat place. hut the Out-Aeency has no authority People, mostly the tourists from for reservation of berths. So, the foreign countries, like to visit Mani­ passengers have to face lot of difficul­ pur because of this scenic beauty. ties. They cannot avail of the oppor­ For this they have to depend on air tunity of getting any reservation foi journey only. Air journey also costs their journey. It has become very nearly about Rs. 6,000 to and fro difficult for these people in the State from Delhi to Imphal. It is very di~ of Manipur. I would request the fficult for them to afford this high ex­ Hon. Minister of Railways to look penditure. In the absence of a rail­ into this matter so that these difficul­ way line to Imphal, those people su­ ties could be redressed. ffer and the people of Manipur also suffer. As the time at my disposal is ver> The State of Manipur produces a short, I now come to conversion of* large number of teak wood and other metre-gauge line from Lamding to forest produce which are required to Jiribam via Silchar into broad-gauge be exported from Manipur to other line. 1 request the Railway Minister parts of the country. It will be con­ to take it up so that it can be conver­ venient, if they can be transported by ted into broad-gauge line. r^iil. This project will be a paying one and a revenue earning one also. I would also like to request the Not only this; if Manipur is connect­ Hon. Minister to constitute a com­ ed by a railway line, it will be helpful mittee which will look after the wel­ for the defence of the country as well. fare of the railway users at Jiribam In the last war, Britishers had experi­ and Silchar. enced the difficulties in the absence of a railway line for the movement of I would request the Minister to con­ the military personnel. They were to vert the Guwahati-Tinsukhia metre- be transported only. by trucks and gauge line into broad-gauge line. buses. We also have to depend on the railways for the movement of the Lastly, the difficulty is about our defence personnel. It is a must for language Manipuri. The people are the country. It is a must not only for struggling for its inclusion in the Manipur, but it is for the whole Eighth Schedule of the Constitution country. It is in the interest of the of the country. country that Imphal must be connect­ ed by a railway line. That is my sub­ SHRI SUDHIR SAW ANT (Raja- mission. pur): Mr. Speaker, Sir, at the outset I would like to express my deep gra­ While speaking on the cut-motions, titude to the Government and the I would like to point out the difficul­ Hon. Railway Minister for having ties that are there. One of them is allocated Rs. 51 crore for the Konkan the difficulties faced by the passen­ Railway Corporation. Konkan rail­ gers for catching train at Ehmapur. way was a long-standing aspiration of Tltereis an Out-Agency at Imphal. the people. With the commissioning Passengers can book their tickets there of the Konkan railway, the develop­ for travelling by train from Dimapur ment process, which had eluded the area for the last 40 years, would start. 16 60 hrs. Having said this, I have seen the We Savetft covers distance of more pace of work on the Konkan railways flMr 20(K kilomett»s ftomlniphal. It It w far $tom satisfiictory; ff tbe wmte 2f7 JUy. Budget, 1991-92- Gen. Discussion & SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 298 (Rfys.\ 1991-92 has to be completed in the given time of that area must be employed in the of five years, then some things are Railways. required to be done. That is what I would like to emphasise here today. Secondly, the port cities in the se­ cond phase of Konkan Railways, must First and foremost, the major bene­ be given proper attention. Why cam not we concentrate on the port towns ficiary state of the Konkan Railway which have no communications for Project is Maharashtra as 423 kilo­ conneeting the Railways to the port metres of the railway line passes towns? So, I would request that in the through this State which is the most second phase, port towns should also backward area of this region of the be brought in the Konkan Railway country, that isY Konkan, which is Project hilly. There are about 73 tunnels and 146 major bridges to be constructed for this railway. No work has been Another point which I want to make started on this aspect as yet. So, I is that one has to travel 200 to 259 would request the Railway Minister kilometres for reservation and only to concentrate the work on these tun­ then, one can travel by train. No nels and bridges. Otherwise, the pro­ booking facility is available in this ject will he delayed. area. Now. Railways must concentrate and provide booking facilities at three places, namely. Sawanfwadi, Kankavli and Lanja. Only then people who are As the Konkan area is the most living in this region can avail the faci­ backward area in the country, I would lities provided by the Railways. also request the railways to concen­ trate on the work in this region. In T have taken very little time to pro­ this area, you will not find any able ject the problems of this area which bodied population here. The demo­ is a very backward one. Once again I graphy is such that there is no person emphasise here that concentration of age-group between 25 to 60 years must be given for the areas of Maha­ whom you can find here because the rashtra and work must start from population has to go to Bombay for Bombay side. There is a tunnel of their work or to find employment. 6.44 kilometres length. This is going So, it is requested that the railway line to take a considerable period of time should be given priority and work and work must be started in this tun­ should start from the northern side, nel. Otherwise, the project will over­ i.e., from Bombay towards the South shoot the time when we cross nearly and in Karnataka from Mangalore ten years. towards Karwar. Goa is already with a railway line. No purpose will be ser­ ved by starting the work in all sec­ [Translation] tions. The former Railway Minister, Shri George Fernandes had promised SHRI ANKUSHRAO RAOSA- that the local people from this region HEB TOPE (Jalna): Mr. Speaker. will be employed in the corporation Sir, it is after a persistent effort that and they will be given priority. But vou have given me this opportunity this has not been done as yet. Since for which I am grateful to you. The. this is a joint venture company, and network of Indian Railways is die since there is no other source of em­ largest in Asia and second largest in ployment in this area or no other in­ the world. We are proud that even in dustry, the people of this area must the wake of economic crises, the hon. be given priority and employed in it Railway Minister has presented a sur­ Siiifee 423 kilometres of railway line plus budget I congratulate him for it going through Maharashtra, a pro* fins; especially because he has exemp­ poftiotiate percentage of population ted the essential commadities from

20— 14 LSS/ND/91 299 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Ztew. y&r 300 Gen. Discussion &

/S&. Ankushrao Raosaheb Tope] reach the stage of completion next year. Next to Aurangabad comes Auranga - freight hike and has kept he hike in ;bad-Parbhani section. But this section second class passenger fares to the has been left out and the new Mara- minimum. The increase in the passen­ ithwada line has been included in it ger,, fare is rupee one upto 400 kms. instead. There is a proposal to con­ and Rs. 5 beyond 400 kms. which is vert the ‘Palbham-Puma-Adilabad nominal. Therefore, I must congratu­ metre gauge line into broad gauge. late him for this. T am not against conversion of this Mr. Speaker, Sir, so far as safety line, but the conversion of Auranga- measures are concerned, there is no bad-Parbhani railway line which is doubt that the number of accidents 200 kms. long should also be taken up. have come down. From 2131 in 1961, It has been ignored as it has been in­ the number of rail accidents have cluded in the Third phase. In its come down to 540 in 1989-90. How­ place, a new railway line, as stated ever, this figure too is on the higher above, has been included. The Hon. side. There is, therefore, an urgent Railway Minister may kindly pay need to bring the number of accidents attention to it. further down. Four causes have been given for the rail accident. Failure of Mr. Chairman, Sir, my constituency railway staff is responsible for 67.6 Jalna is the biggest commercial centre per cent of accidents. Failure of other of Marathwada. It is situated at a dis­ persons is responsible for 10 per cent tance of only 60 kms. from Auranga­ of accidents. Under the failure of bad. The work relating to conversion equipment, rolling stock is responsible of railway line from metre gauge to for 8.7 per cent, tracks for 4.3 per cent broad gauge should be extended be­ and electricity for zero per cent of yond Aurangabad so as to cover accidents. For 3.1 per cent of accidents, Aurangabad-Parbhani section which sabotage has been described as the has been left out for the present and cause and combination of all factors has been included in only phase HI. account for 0.7 per cent of accidents. I would request the Hon. Minister to What I mean to say is that failure of take up this extension work. railway staff is responsible for 70 per cent .of accidents. This is one factor Jalna and Khamgaon are big com­ to which the Railways should pay ut­ mercial centres of Marathwada an& most attention. This is all I want to Vidarbha respectively. 10-15 years say in this regard. back a survey for connecting both these places through railway line was Ten new trains have been introduc­ conducted. Subsequently, the Railway ed and 314 kms. of new railway line Department said that it was not feasi­ is claimed to have been laid. For this ble to lay railway line there. Both I congratulate the hon. Minister. Mr. these areas are backward and hence, Chairman. Sir, Marathwada is the I would request that survey should be most backward region in Maharashtra. conducted afresh and these places The people of this region do not should be connected by a railway know what is broad gauge line and line. If it is done, it will pave way for what is national highway. In his Bud­ the development of these backward get Speech, the Hon. Minister has areas. I would request the Hon. Minis­ spelt out the programme for conver­ ter of Railways to pay attention to it. sion of railway lines into broad gauge There is a railway line named Parli— fines. Under this programme, Man- Beed—Ahmednagar railway line in mad-Parbhani and Parli metre gauge Marathwada. My colleague Smt. Kesh* railway line is proposed to be conver­ rabai Samaj Krisagar had mentioned ted into broad gauge line. It includes about this line yesterday saying that provision for ManmftteAuningabad it is very necessary to carry out Jfcx*. The work uptManmad. I would request that Kachiguda-Jaipur Express should attention should be paid in this regard be extended up to Delhi. I would re­ also. With these words J support the quest that Parbhani-Aurangabad Railway Budget and express my thanks gauge conversion should also be inclu­ to you. ded and more funds should be provi­ ded for this. [English] The Division ofiice of South Cen­ SHRI MORESHWAR SAVE tral Railways is proposed at Nanded. (Aurangabad): Mr. Chairman Sir, first 1 request that the proposed Division of all, I have to express my gratitude Office should be located at Puma ins­ to the hon. Minister through you for tead of Nanded because the land price his commitment and for keeping the is very high at Nanded and all the target as far as the Konkan and infrastructure for the proposed Office Aurangabad-Manmad lines are con­ is available at Puma. In view of this cerned. 1 would request the Hon. Minister to shift the proposed Division Office at Secondly, 1 would like to draw the Purna instead of at Nanded. kind attention of the Hon. Minister to the sad plight of the season-ticket Aurangabad being a tourist centre. holders in Bombay and other places. I would request the Hon. Minister to As a matter of fact, the Minister develop it as a model station. should go into the details of difficul­ ties which the season-ticket holders 1 would also like to request the are undergoing at present. In view of Hon. Minister to consider conversion this, I would suggest that he should of Mirej-Latur Road. reconsider the fare increase in season tickets. Finally, I would like to speak on some of my cut motions. 1 would also like to draw his atten­ tion to the quality of service at the 1. 13 Dn/14 Up Janata Express canteens of the railway stations as between Bombay and Madras also in the trains. The quality of ser­ should be resumed. vice is deteriorating day by day. 1 would like the Minister to look into 2. More quota of berths and seats the matter personally. should be provided for Auran­ gabad in Jammu Tawi Express I now come to track conversion and Karnataka Express. from Manmad to Aurangabad which is likely to be completed by Decem­ 3. Computerised railway booking ber end. should be provided at Auran­ gabad which is a big tourist Similarly, the same track line to centre. be extended up to Parbhani, as well as Adilabad and Parli. I would re­ ; 4' There is a need td. undertake quest the Minister to look into this ;■ the projects highlighted in the m Rly. Budget, 1991-92— JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 304 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. Moreshwai Save] three to four hours. Very often, it is cancelled. Often there is no witter status paper on Bombay sub- supply in the coaches. I request the urban rail system. Railway Minister to kindly $ee that There is a need to study the the condition of Utkal Express train feasibility of underground sub­ is improved. urban railway network in Bom­ bay in view of heavy traffic and Fourthly, I request the Railway lack of space for additional Minister, through you, Sir, to intro­ railway tracks and also tile duce a Super-fast Train from, New possibility to link Karanja and Delhi to Rourkela on a daily basis. Trombay through shorter route. Besides this, Patna Express and Amrit­ sar Express that are running up to 6. There is to need to extend Tata Nagar should also be extended Bombay suburban line, upto up to Rourkela. Dahanu Road. Fifthly, the oldest Railway Station Finally, before I conclude, I would in my constituency Panposh requires request the Hon. Minister to consider immediate renovation. Aurangabad Station as a Model Sta­ tion and also consider the completion Sixthly, an over-bridge may be of Manmad—Aurangabad railway line constructed at Kukda Gate near Bon- before the end of December. domunda railway yard on Rourkela- ■ Bisra Road and one at Basanti KUMAR1 FRIDA TOPNO (Sun- Colony, Rourkela in my constituency. dargarh): Sir, I support the railway Budget proposals. My congratulations [Translation] to the Railway Minister for presenting the Budget which is not harsh to the SHRI SR1PAL SINGH YADAV middle-class and the poor. But it is (Sambhal): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I a matter of regret that once again think the rich are becoming richer Orissa could not get due consideration and the poor are becoming poorer in the Railway Budget. The Western and this is evident from this Railway Orissa*-a Tribal dominated region has Budget also. Once upon a time been completely over-looked in the Simibhal was capita] of the Mughals Budget. I appeal to the Hon. Minister ana was a very important city. The to provide funds for connecting rail­ Divisional Railway Manager has can­ way Ijpe from Jharsuguda—Sundar- celled four trains running between garh—Jashpur to Ranchi covering the Sambhal and Moradabad. Those are Tribal belt of Eastern India to enable 1 SR; 2 SR and 3 SRM; 4 SRM. This the overall development of this region. has caused great inconvenience to the The district headquarters of my cons­ passengers...... {Interruptions) The tituency, Sundargarh is not connected Chandausi Railway Station is an im* with Railway link. portant station in my area. There is a Training College for Northern Rail­ Tr"Would appeal to the Hon. Minister way. Top officials of Railways are to provide necessary funds for the im­ sent there on training. Adequate provement of Rourkela Railway Sta­ training facilities are not available tion. there. I want to submit that there is not even a single Express train bet­ Thirdly, Western Orissa has got ween Moradabad and Lucknow vh only one Express Train connecting Chandausi. the Capital of India. So, I request the Minister to improve the condition of My suggestion is that the Janata UtkaL Express since the team never Express, M ira Express and Sayeed mm in time, every day, it it late by Express should be rooted through 305 U a ^ t m i l « T SRAVANA3,19131S>1KA> Dm .t„ Q ,M s 3W Uen.uiscussion & {Rlys.\ 1991-92

Chandausi instead of Rampur. Simi­ Sir, I would like to submit to the larly 375 UP and 376 DN Roza- hon. Minister that Railways plays a Deihi passenger train should be di­ vital role in the all round development verted Chandausi. There is a of the countiy and therefore, it has Link Express between Oehradun and a significant place in our economy. Allahabad. A stoppage of this The State which does not have suffi­ train should be provided for two cient railway network remains back­ minutes at Bahjoi station. This ward. I want to submit about one does not involve any expenditure. such backward state. The Patna-Gaya The Railway training college in railway line has been laid by the Bri­ Chandausi was established in 1925. tishers. But even today there is no In all there are about 4000 em­ double line on this section. When ployees in this college and cn the Shri Madhavrao Scindia was the Rail­ station. A small hospital is there but way Minister, he had admitted that a lady doctor should be appointed the construction of a double line on there and an Ambulance should be this section is pending because of re­ provided- No proper medical facili­ source constraints and had assured ties are available there. The RMS the House that it would be definitely facility ai Chandausi Railway Sta­ done. When this has to be done tion f e been withdrawn. The RMS then why it is being delayed on the facility should be restored there. Ac­ pretext of resource constraints. By cording to the orders of the Railway doing so we are keeping Bihar back­ Board "instructors are appointed there ward. The question of expansion of for a period of four years and there­ new Patna Railway Station has been after they are transferred. A high raised many times but the Govern­ level committee was set up under the ment has not paid any attention to it. Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Kagroo. ft suggested that Instructors with long There was a narrow gauge line bet­ arid varied experience should be ap­ ween Fatha and Islampur. Now there pointed, even if they have crossed 58 is no train on this route. Lakhs of years of age i.e. the age of super­ people are facing lot of inconveni­ annuation. I would like to submit ence. Earlier they used to reach that the post of Instructor should be Patna by just paying Rs. 5 only made a cadre post and persons should but now they have to spend R& 15- be appointed on the basis of selec­ 20 to reach there. The entire area tion. Besides their salaries should be is backward. I would like to sug­ fixed according to the recommenda­ gest the hon. Minister to revive the tions of the Fourth Pay Commission. Fatha-Islampur narrow gauge line At present there are lot of disparities and extend it upto Bodh Gaya be­ in the* pay and allowances paid to cause Bodh Gaya is a place of tou­ the Instructors. Last year also I rist interest and we earn foreign ex­ had raised this point and . today L re­ change from there. There is no rail link to that place. This should be peat it that Sambhal is an important included in the Eighth Five Year Plan city from industrial point of view. It and the construction of Gaya-Patna should be linked with Gajraula by a double line should also be expedited. rail line. Similarly. Sambhal should One of the reasons of the growing be linked with Lucknow via Chan­ terrorism in the area is backwardness dausi. Last year also it was stated of that region and the terrorists have here that one thousand new railway even established a parallel Govern- lines would be laid every year* I men* in the area. Wherever dual po­ would like to submit that provision licy has been adopted, the same should be made for it and Gajraula thing is happening because at many should be linked with Sambhal* places there has been excessive expan­ sion df railway lines, whereas at SHRI RAMASHRAY PRASAD some places practically nothing has SIN0H (JfChanaBad): Mr. Oiaiiimaii, been done. Government should 3o7 My. Budget, 1991-92 JULY 25, 1991 Dent, for Grants 308 Gen. Discussion & (Jllys*)> 1991*92

[Sh. Ramashray Prasad Singh] [Translation] take hate of such a situation. Due The Members of your party whose to this imbalance, people through­ names were submitted by the party out the country living in backward have already spoken. Now you al­ regions are going towards terrorism. low the hon. Minister to reply. Therefore, you should pay your atten­ tion towards this problem. Patna- Gaya rail line should be doubled. SHRI SATYNARAYAN JATI- YA: Please allow me a little..... I would like to draw the attention of hon. Minister to one more prob­ [English] lem that no education facility has been provided to the chidren of Rail­ way employees of Jahanabad and MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit also there is no provision for medi­ down. cal facility to them. I would, there­ fore, suggest that Railway Depart­ THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS ment should open its own school and (SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF): hospital so that the children of Rail­ Sir, at the outset, I thank all my col­ way employees could get the educa­ leagues for participating in the de­ tion as well as medical facility. With bate and offering their very valuable these words 1 conclude my speech. suggestions. I would like to assure the hon. Members that all their valu­ [English] able suggestions will receive my at- tention. I may not be able to cover MR. CHAIRMAN: The Hon. Rail­ all the points that have been men­ way Minister will now reply to the tioned. More than about eighty to debate. ninety Members have participated and they have given their points. Of [Translation] course some of the suggestions, espe­ cially of those Members who have Earlier the time fixed for the reply spoken just now are not before me, of the Minister was hal[ past three, but all of them are being taken on then it was extended to 4 O’clock and record. I will be writing to them now it is already 4.30. Now the separately. Here, I will be dealing Railway Minister will reply to the with only a few points. Debate and thereafter, two or three more items would be taken up. It has become my most challenging [English] task to present this Railway Budget at a time when the country is facing There are two or three items more. a very adverse economic situation. The hon. Railway Minister will now There is a pressing need for financial reply. discipline and also for resource mo­ bilisation. I have attempted to frame [Translation] the Budget in such -a way that the SHRI SATYNARAYAN JATI- financial viability of the Railways is YA (Ujjain>: Mr. Chairman, Sir, I maintained and at the same time an wanted to make a submission to the undue burden is not cast on the com­ hon. Minister just for one minute. munity. The discussion generally re­ flects the understaning of my effort [English] and I am deeply grateful to the House for tKMTr There have been MR. CHAIRMAN: Now I request some very valuable suggestions. I you to sit down let the hon. Minister shall try to meej the different points spc^ak. a of view that have been expressed. 309 Rly. Budget , 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (5/4 £4) Dem. for Grants 310 G*t?. Discussion d (#/}’£.)«1991-92

Sir, when the fares have been in­ adding many more halts so that the creased it is but natural that the Superfast, Fast, Rajdhani Express and Members should reflect the mood of the Mail trains become passenger the people and they have expressed trains or these trains are meant for their concern and mentioned the long distance passengers. improvements that they would like to see in the area of passenger ameni­ Some friends from the other side ties. I agree with the hon. Members said that the trains in the north Ben­ that there is a lot to be done in this gal area are running at the speed of field in order to make travel more 40 kms whereas the other trains are comfortable. Acting in this direc­ running at the speed of 100 kms. tion, soon after taking charge of Why should the people pay the same this Ministry, I tried to improve the fare which they are paying for the punctuality of the trains. When I train which runs at the speed of have to speak about the punctuality 100 kms for the train which runs of the trains, I think the august at the speed of 40 kms? It is not House will appreciate if I tell them for me to find an answer. It is for that political instability leads to lot you to find an answer. You should of compromises. order me as to what I should do. I am prepared to obey that ...( Inter­ ruptions) My esteemed predecessor is not here now. I mean Shri George Fer­ nandes. During his time he has SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT- sanctioned about four hundred halts TERJEE (Dum Dum): Will that po­ to some trains. His successor and sition valid for 691 retrenched em­ my immediate predecessor, Shri Ja- ployees also?... (Interruptions) neswar Mishra, had given about 100 halts. So, the total number of halts SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: given in the period of one year and There was consensus in this House eight months or so comes to 500. If for reinstatement of those workers... a passenger has to travel from Tri­ (Interruptions} vandrum to Guwahati you can ima­ gine as to how many days it will take. SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: On two issues—reinstatement of vic­ In addition to that, the geneal law timised workers and recognition to and order situation reflects on the rail­ RPF Association—there is no two way system. Overcrowding, alarm opinion in this House... (Interrup­ chain pulling, defects in the coaches, tions} not properly maintained locomotives and such other administrative defici­ MR. CHAIRMAN: Kindly do encies are also there. That is diffe­ not interrupt. rent. But how can we compromise with the system which is causing problems to the long distance passen­ gers in reaching their destination? Even during the-course of this de­ SHRI C.K. JAFFER SHARIEF: bate, I found a lot of Members ask­ When I come to that subject, you ing for halts at innumerable places. can raise it... (Interruptions) I would request the hon. Members to bear Sir, to begin with, on the Motion with me. I have listened to thefti of Thanks to the President, our very patiently, and I have even Prime Minister had rightly said that conceded with you. Sir, with the today we have to function cm the ba­ mood of the House, by accommodat­ sis of concensus. So, I would like ing more Mermers to express their to go by what my friends advise problems because I wanted to educate me. The point is whether I go on myself more about their problems. So, *311 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- JULY .25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 112 Discussion & (Rlys.), J 991-92

[Sh. G K. Jaffer Sharief] far as additional resource mobilisa­ tion is concened. To .that extent, a J, would like them to show some un­ shortfall m our contribution to: the derstanding and allow . me to deal plan became inevitable. Since the with the issues that are before me. general revenues are also affected for Sir, I was. mentioning about punc­ the same reasons, they are also not tuality. Soon after I took over this in a position to compensate. Itm ust Ministry, „I had directed the Minis­ also be noted that the duration of the try that every official at. different le­ time over which adequate plan pro­ vels will have to take responsibility gress cquld be maintained, has also of certain trains and they should been somewhat curtailed. As a re­ monitor them. Certain stations they sult, it will not be easy to utilise fully will have to monitor like cleanliness, a higher plan outlay in the current drinking water facilities, running of year. I shall make every possible trains, maintenance, of trains etc. It effort to see that the Eighth Plan is not as if the Railway Minister allocation for the railways is de­ or the Railway Board or the Zonal termined so that the railways are able Railway will have to look after to meet their obligations to the tra­ everything. Everybody in the system velling public and the economy. I will have to look after these things expect that this will be reflected in with a certain amount of responsibi­ the plan outlays of the next few lity and he will be responsible for years. all that. This kind of message has already been sent. 1 am glad to in­ form you that today 82 per cent The Members are naturally inte­ punctuality has come back. T can rested in the newr lines and gauge assure the House that the drive will conversion in their constituencies and cqntinue. regions. So there is a serious prob­ lem. This debate may be over today, but we are bound to have many m6re SHRI ISIRMAL KANT CHAT­ such debates in the coming months TER JEE ( Dum Dum): What exact- A large area of our country remains lv does he want to convey by statins under-developed which needs infra­ that they are 300 per cent punctual? structural support of railway network. Are they arriving before time? Regarding laying of new lines I wish to point out that each kilometre of SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: new railway line costs Rs. 1 crore, They are arriving at the right time. conversion into BG lines costs Rs. May be due to a technical reasons 75 lakhs and electrification costs Rs there may be delay in the case of 40 lakhs. one or two trains. But generally they are arriving on time. If you find fault with this statement of mine, I SHRIMATI GEETA MUKHER- need to be educated, I want guid­ JEE (Pansakura): Is this before de­ ance from you so that I can take valuation or after devaluation? measures. . One of ihe hon. Membes has point­ SHRI C.K. JAFFER SHARIEF: ed out that the Railway plan outlay Before. shows a major increase over the last year. It was such a small increrse that .. .{Interruptions)... in real terms when we take into ac­ count inflation, there is actually a MR. CHAIRMAN: I would re^ faU in the outlay. Perhaps: they may quest- r the hon. Members kindly -nof be>quite tfiie but there- nb alternative. to interrupt. th e railways hate lost four-and-a half months ofthe current yeai so ilnjerrupHom) 313 Rly. Budget , 1991-92— SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 314 Gen. Discussion & {Rlys.j, 1991-92 SHRI GUMAN MAL LODHA SHRI AMAL DATTA {Diamond (Pali): What about Ahmadabad—Del­ Harbour): Regarding this I gave a hi broad gauge conversion from me- suggestion to follow the Konkan Rail­ tre gauge for which we have already way pattern ...f Interruptions). offered that the entire finances would be arranged by us. If you issue rail- SHRI C.K. JAFFER SHARIEF: way bonds for the purpose of arrang­ I will come to the Konkan Railway ing the funds so that Bombay is con­ projects also. nected with Delhi directly for the convenience of passengers and deve­ SHRI AMAL DATTA: Not that lopment of area as well as for goods question. So many lines are wait­ traffic both? ing. Why don’t you take that pat- . tern... (Interruptions). MR. CHAIRMAN: These points should have been raised during the SHRI C K . JAFFER SHARIEF: Debate. The hon. Minister has made Shri Amal Dattaji, I have under­ a detailed note to each and every stood you. What you are saying is point that the Members raised. If to accept that concept. Wher, 1 Viil you interrupt in between like this come to Konkan Railway, ] will then chain of thoughts will be bro­ explain the position so that you will ken. I would, therefore, request you be able to help me in that ... (In- not to interrupt when he is speaking. terrupdons). By this I do not mean that the new projects should not be taken up. It is my endeavour SHRI C.K. JAFFER SHARIEF: that with the improvements in finan­ Sir, what I want to request the hon. cial position, we will be taking up Members is—as I have shown a keen projects for under developed areas. interest to get educated from you— perhaps I am one among you, I am There is a problem between MG not somebody else—whatever I have and BG lines. A large area of our been able to get from the side of country still has got metre gauge the Administration are also matters system. I do not know how many of detail which you will be able to centuries it will take for me to get it know so that when you participate converted fully. I personally feel next or when you ask and try to go because I am not speaking the ad­ and explain to your constituents, ministration language here—I am spea­ you will be able to explain it proper­ king as one of the representative to ly. So, what I would request you the people here—the administration to give some patient hearing. has a fear that when there is a pres­ sure to get an MG line converted into 1 was telling the conversion of MG BG line, they do not take the neces­ to BG lines costs Rs. 70 to 80 lakhs sary interest to maintain this MG per km. At the same time, we need line or upgrade the MG line as the an amount of Rs. 3,000 crores to pressure is mostly on conversion of complete the on going project on lines. Why this pressure? The which we have already incurred some pressure is that the metre gauge line expenditure. It should be remem­ has not been able to create that kind bered that the annual allocation is of confidence in the investors at is only to the tune between Rs. 350 should, whether it is a private sector crores and Rs. 400 crores over the investor or a public sector investor. year. This being the constraint of the The investment comes only where fund position, I am of the view that there is a broad gauge line. Without first we should step up our allocation the broad gauge line, the other eco­ towards on going projects so that nomic development does not come. the projects are completed and the So, naturally, since there is more benefits start flowing to the people. demand for conversion and the 21—14 LSS/ND/91 315 Rly. Budget , 1991-92 - JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 316 Gert. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[Sh. C. K. Jaffer Sharier] will have to address ourselves whe­ Government, from time to time, ther we can make this metre gauge went on taking up certain metre system as efficient as broad gauge gauge lines for conversion, the sys­ system and create confidence in the tem feels that since they do not know investors, whether it is private sec­ when they are going to get into this, tor investor or public sector investor, so, let them not waste the money. so that the investment can flow to As a result, the metre gauge has those areas, those backward regions suffered. Here I am trying to go where the metre gauge system exists into details. May be, sometimes we and that infrastructure can also be will have to take hard decisions. utilised and economic development in those areas takes place. Some Members referred about my association with the Railways bet­ Now I will come to what my friends ween 1980 and 1984. Even in those were talking about the Konkan Rail­ days when my attention was engaged way. I am sorry, my esteemed friend with this problem, I personally felt Mr. George Fernandes is not here. this and also discussed it, when we Mr. Amal Datta, who has lot of in­ brought about the new concept of sight to the economies of the public BOXN wagons, heavy locomotives sector, has just now mentioned that and bulk commodity movement from we should accept the concept...(In­ one end to the other, that we cannot terruptions). just ignore the metre gauge lines. Metre gauge lines are as good as broad gauge lines. The only bottle­ SHRI AMAL DATTA: Accept neck in the metre gauge lines is the the pattern of financing, not the rail­ transhipment areas. Where the way. loading has to be transferred from one system to the other, there it SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: creates lot of problem. Maybe, we Let me complete. The other day may have to think of certain new Mr. George Fern tndes spoke and he technology whereby we are able to tried to create an impression as if he remove this bottleneck and make the has achieved a very big thing and metre gauge system as efficient as the his contribution is so great. It is broad gauge system. I have asked very strange. Three Congress-ruled the administration to study it and I State Governments in the South—in am going to sit with them. I am Karnataka. Maharashtra and G oa- prepared to even discuss with some are parties in equity shares to this of the Members who have some Konkan Railway. I agree with knowledge and experience about these Shri Amal Datta on this. He could issues, who can educate me on this. have nrjde a breakthrough because One idea is that the metre gauge sys­ both the than Finance Minister Prof. tem is as good as the broad gauge Madhu Dandavate and Dy. Chairman system and upgradation of the metre of Planning Commission Shri Rama- gauge will, more or less, cost nearer krishna Hegde were his friends. He to the broad gauge. So, there is could have managed to get the bottle­ again an element of doubt. If the neck removed. Generally Ministry upgradation of the metre gauge is of Finance and Planning Commission going to cost nearer to the broad do not agree to get into this concept. gauge, why should there be metre It is a good idea if it is workable. gauge? Why not we should go to I am just telling you. the broad gauge? And to take up broad gauge, we do not have enough It will tell what happened in this fmds. So, naturally, because of project. This project is to be com­ resource constraint the process will pleted by 1994-95. The equity is take centuries. is where wc Rs. 119 crores for the year 1990-91. 317 Rly. Budget , 1991-92—SRAVANA 3, 1913 (5.1A7J) Dem, for Grants 318 Gen. Discussion & {Rlys.), 1991-92

They have spent Rs, 40 crores. Bangalore and say, T will agitate But for the year 1991-92 we have here.5 given about Rs. 51 crores. The Hon’ble Member was trying to doubt (Interruptions), that with the change of Government, whether the Government has changed SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: the mind and also about the bond The Government is not paying royal­ scheme whether we are having second ty on coal. thoughts or doubts. Let me clarify. Today we raise the bond—1* am tell­ {Interruptions). ing just for the information of Shri Amal Datta—and the moment you SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: float the bond and have the money, Do you want me to speak on that? the interest is charged. Tf for any technical reason the project does not get completed by 1994—not SHRI AMAL DATTA: You for financial reason assuming that we have to understand and appreciate. will meet fully the financial require­ ments—then the interest will get ac­ SHRI TIRAT BARAN TOPDAR cumulated. How do we pay back (Barrackpore): You have done in­ that interest? This was one doubt calculable harm to Bihar. which was worrying the administra­ tion since the concept and particular­ Interruption-}. ly when Railways has got resource constraint. T am glad to say that the SHRI E. AHAMED Uttar Pradesh political instability in the country it and Bihar. The Government of has resulted in what. Posterity will India, Ministry of Railways has made decide about it. the payment. The Government of Uttar Pradesh has partly met the de­ Hon. Members Shri Anna Joshi, mand but the Government of Bihar— Shri George Fernandes, Dr. Karti- the Government of the Party to keswar Patra and Shri Surya Narayan which he belongs to—has not paid a Singh spoke on the need to end mal­ naya paisa, during 1990-91. practices in Railways. Mr. Fernan­ des referred to the Vigilance Con­ 17.00 hrs. ference held in October 1990. The declaration adopted by the Confe­ He does not go to Bihar and say rence required implementation of that T will agitate here’. You go to the Action Plan to fight the malprac- 319 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 320 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.% 1991-92

[Six. C K. Jaffer Sharief] may kindly be informed as to what tices, preventive vigilance aspect and he has said in the Railway budget take quick effective action in investi­ about reinstating the Railway em­ gation and disposal of the cases. ployees. Last time an assurance was given to delete the section 14(2) 17.02 hrs. in the interest of Railway employees, which has not yet been implemented. (SHjR/ SHARAD D1GHE in the What action is he taking in this Chair). regard? Sir, on the question of malprac­ SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: tices, I must telJ you one thing. I He please sit down. I will reply to was listening to the debate and I his point later on. presume—although I have been in this House for a long time, this is (Interruptions). my sixth term, every time when we get elected and come here, we speak [English] for our people, for our region, for Mr. Fernandes also mentioned the development of the area and cer­ about ...... (Interruptions) I am not tain things which we consider in the yielding. national interest are most important •md vital. What surprise and shock (Interruptions). 1 had when an hon. Member was re­ ferring to 1980-84 when I was Minis­ MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI SHA­ ter of State for Railways. He was RAD D1GHE): No interruptions quoting from some press cuttings say­ please. Sit down. ing ‘this has been, that has been and that has been../ I do not know [Trans kit ion] whether he was speaking for the peo­ ple, whether the people gave him the SHRI DAU DAYAL JOSH1: mandate for that to refer to the old He kindly inform the House as to press cuttings rather than demanding who has intimidated him and who has something new for his people. threatened him? Let me, Sir, make use of this oppor­ tunity to tell that any contractor or any official, if he thinks that by SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: feeding information to Members he It is on the record. He may go will try to cow me down, I have al­ through it. ready told that I am not a permanent Railway Minister here. Nobody is (Interruptions). permanent. Government will go and Government will come, but as [English] long as we are here even if it is one MR. CHAIRMAN: Please do day, my basic interest will be the not interrupt; let him complete his interest of the people which is upper­ speech. most in my mind. And nobody can try to bully us with this kind of feed back or try to blackmail the Govern­ SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF. ment or anybody who would like to Sir, when he was referring to Vigi­ work for the people. lance Commission, he has talked about certain mismanagement of land use in the Railways. Certainly, [Translation] that is an area where we have to look into. I am going to have some bet­ SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (Aonla): ter arrangements for the land manage­ Hon. Minister, hM M^ken about the ment in the Railways. Even Shri welfare of RailwHf* ^Siployees. We Amal Datta also has mentioned that 321 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 322 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92 the Railways could make use of the issue covering the entire labour sec- land available for more productive tor. (Interruptions) purposes. I also have the same idea and I would see as to how best it can be used in the larger interests of SHRI TIRAT BARAN TOPDAR It you introduce it in Railways, that mobilisation of resources and for the will be followed by others. benefit of the people. We will avoid any such area of corruption, if it is (Interruptions) being misused. SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: You cannot expect everything from SHRI SOMNATH CH ATTER- me in 10 days9 time . You must JEE: It can be used for social give me some time to study and dis­ forestry. cuss with others. On policy deci­ sions, you cannot expect me to com­ SHRI C K. JAFFER SHARIEF: mit suddenly. I will have a dialogue That is also a good idea. Sir, with other friends and see what we Shri Ram Naik raised the question can do in the matter. of over payment to wagon builders. He has promised to write a letter to Sir, again Shri George Fernandes me giving the details. Points similar took exception to my statement about to those mentioned by him during the trimming of the work force. Many discussion have been brought to my hon. Members also expressed their noticc by Shri Ashwini Kumar, a apprehensions about this. Let me Rajya Sabha Member in early April assure the House, that when I am this year. The wagon prices are speaking about the trimming the work fixed based on the recommendations force, it does not mean trimming the of the Chief Advisor (Accounts) of labour. I have come from a poor the Ministry of Finance. It is an family and I know how difficult it independent agency. Following the is to find a job. If you have to same lines, as adopted by the earlier trim the system, you have to start it committees, he has recommended from the top. If I do it from the an overhead percentage for the private top, I do not think anybody should sector at 182 based on the average find fault with it. Let us see how of 10 wagon builders. The public it works. I can assure you, there sector is to be given a 10 per cent is no question of throwing them out build-up over this and the percentage of employment. We are not going for the public sector would be at to throw the workers on the street. 200. As far as the capacity utilisa­ We will get them re-deployed some­ tion is concerned, the Chief Advisor where by giving them necessary train­ (Cost) has adopted actual capacity ing. wherever it was in excess of 90 per cent and a norm of 90 per cent was SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA : adopted wherever it was less. After T raised the question of contract examination, it was felt that no over workers in the steam locomotives who payment was involved. However, I have to handle with coal and ash. am waiting for the letter of Shri Ram Naik to examine the matter further SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: in the light of any new facts that may Well, we have already said about be brought out. the workers from steam locomotives. We will not send them out. We will use them somewhere by giving them Sir, Shri George Fernandes and necessary training. Shri Ram Naik have proposed that the secret ballot system should be followed for recognition of unions. Now I come to the other question I have to state that this is a larger about the reinstatement of staff who 323 Rly. Budget, 1991-91— JULY 25, 1991 D m . for Grants 324 Gen. Discussion & (Rtys*), 1991-92

[SL C. K. Jailer Sharief] of the House after the assurance was were dismissed or removed from given. service. At this juncture, I can assure the Members that I will examine these cases sympathetical­ I would earnestly plead with the ly. . .{Interruptions.) hon. Railway Minister. I know there may be some constraints. But SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA. knowing him well, 1 am sure, he There is no question of examination. will see that those Railway employees The decision was taken by your pre­ who were dismissed under rule 14{ii) decessor and in this very House it without any enquiry, should be rein­ was announced. It was already deci­ stated forthwith. Please implement ded. You should implement it. the decision. The decision has al­ ready been taken. If the Railway Minister is trying to reopen the issue SHRI N1RMAL KANT1 CHAT- that will create difficulties. The TERJEE: If you are considerate only thing is, it is for you to give enough, then what the previous effect to the decision already taken. Government had decided, you imple­ You cannot go on changing the deci­ ment it. (Interruptions.) sion simply because there is a change in the Railway Minister. Then there SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- is no value to the commitment made JEE: There are no two opinions to this House by successive Railway on this. The entire House is in agree­ Ministers. The entire Congress ment. Mr. Kumaramangalam is Party then supported us. Therefore, here. He had supported it in the I would plead with the hon. Minis­ House. (Interruptions.) ter to please make it clear now that lie will implement the decision. The MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit question is the date of implementa­ down. Please listen to the Minister. tion. (Interruptions.) [T ranskttion] SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- JEE: Sir, I would like to remind DR. LAXMI NARAYAN PAN- the hon. Railway Minister that on DEY (Mandsaur): Mr. Chairman, this issue, there was no division in the decision has already been taken. the House when it was last raised. We simply want to know whether he I remember, Mr. P. R. Kumaraman­ is going to implement it or not. galam sat in the Well of the House also for* this. Mr. Shri Jaffer Sharief, hon. the Railway Minister who then SHRI RAJENDRA AGN1HOTR1 sitting on this side of the House had (Jhansi): Mr. Chairman, an as­ taken up this matter and also sup­ surance had been given to the House ported this case. It was known to in this regard. Shri Kumaraman­ us because the announcement was galam] i is sitting here. At that time made in the House that Shri George he had come to the well of th£ house Fernandes had taken a decision and and the then Minister Shri Janeswar issued the orders. But that was not Misra had given a firm assurance that allowed to be implemented because the employees who were removed the Motion of Confidence was pend­ from service during the strike, would ing. Then, Mr. Janeshwar Mishra be reinstated, and the wards of those made a commitment on the floor of who have reached the age of super­ the House as the Railway Minister, annuation would be given employ­ We shall implement the decision” . ment. We may kindly be informed Sim P. R. Kumaramangalam and whether he is going to implement the other friends withdrew from the Well decision or not. 325 Rly- Budget, 1991-92 SRAVAN' — D< in. foi Grant\ 32^ Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

[English] [T ranslation] SHR! BASU DEB ACHARIA SHRI RAJENDRA AGNIHO- You should give a categorical assu­ TRI: Mr. Chairman, Sir. there was rance. consensus in the House on this issue during the hist Lok Sabha. The hon. MR. CHAIRMAN: It is now Railway Minister had given an assu­ fair that you listen to the hon. Minis­ rance in this regard, that the em­ ter also. Please sit down. ployees who w'ere removed from ser­ vice during the nation-wide strike, would be reinstated and the children [Translation] of those dismissed employees, who h ave now reached the age of super­ SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA; annuation would be given employ­ T R I: There is nothing left for fur­ ment. This decision has already ther discussion. Mr. Chairman, there been arrived at unanimously. The has already been a lot of discussion former Railway Minister had assured in this very House in the last Lok the entire house that orders for their Sabha and this matter was raised by re-instatement would be issued. The the Congress party. There was con­ hon. Minister should give a categori­ sensus in the entire house about this cal answer in this regard: ( Interrup­ issue. What is now left for further tions') discussion. ( Interruptions) [English] [English] MR. CHAIRMAN: Why do SHRT BASU DEB ACHARIA: you repeat? Let the hon. Minister T refer to a letter from Shri Janeswar reply. Misra to Shri Kumaramangalam re­ garding recognition to a Welfare SHRI RAM NAIK (Bombay- Association. (Interruptions) North): On this point, the Rail­ way Minister has not accepted the demand made by us. His attitude is SHRI C K. JAFFER SHARIEF: anti-labour and that is why this BJP I would appeal to hon. Members to Group is walking out in protest. bear with me. I am sure all the learned Members will correct me if I am wrong. I have never said any­ 17.19 hrs. thing negative. I only said that I would assure the hon. Members that (Shri Ram Naik and some other hon. I Will examine this case sympatheti­ Members then left the House.) cally. {Interrupt ions) SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT- TERJEE: Please tell us what you want us to do. We do not want to SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT- walk out. TERJEE: I am inviting Shri Kuma- ramangaiam to join us. (Interrup­ SHRI C. K JAFFER SHARIEF: tions) Please bear with me. (Interruptions)

SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARTEF: SHRI TARIT BARAN TOPDAR: Please bear with me. We require that the order passed ear­ lier should be implemented.‘Let--him SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA. declare that the order will be imple­ Now we are to implement that order. mented. (Interruptions) 327 Rly. Budget, 1991-92- - JULY 25. 1991 Dew. lor Grants 328 Gen. Discussion & (Riys.) ,1991-92

SHRI SOBHANADRESWARA THE MINISTER OF STATE IN RAO VADDE (Vijayawada): How THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS long will they evade its implementa­ {SHRI M ALL1K ARJUN): Sir, h tion? We want a categorical assuran­ is not possible to implement any order ce today. (Interruptions) passed by the previous Government. They must know that. We want to SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: consider it. They should also respect Sir, I am very much amazed about it. (Interruptions) this. 1 do not know why Members should feel that only they have the SHRI N1RMAL KANTI CHAT- humane feelings for a worker as if TERJEE: We wanted to give you we are not, as if we do not know the time till the Budget discussions. Now poverty, as if we do not have our you will have to give an assurance. families....{Interruptions) (Interruptions)

SHRI SOBHANADRESWARA- SHRI AMAL DATTA: What is RAO VADDE: Only you have re­ there to consider? You should say moved them from service. {Interrup­ when it will be done. Only you have tions) to consider when it will be done. Please clarify that point. (Interrup­ SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: tions) Please bear with me. Let me tell vou one thing. In this House, no political Why can he not say that he will do party can be irresponsible because it? When will he do it? It has already everyone had a Government. Do thev been committed to the House. How expect the same kind of commitment? can he say that he will consider it? Did they commit to the Opposition What is there to consider any more? the same thing when the Opposition He can only say when he will consi­ demanded it? They were in the Gov­ der it to be implemented, how soon it ernment. ( Interruptions) will be irrmlemented. (Interruptions) Please bear with me. What is it that I have said? I have said that I will SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: sympathetically examine it and it Shri Amal Datta, I can understand means that I want time. If you do not this from a new Member, not from understand that, if you expect the you. (Interruptions) Government to categorically say be­ cause there is some commitment, what SHRI AMAL DATTA: I do not can I do? (Interruptions) know whether you have understood what we are saying. This is* the un­ THE MINISTER OF STATE OF fortunate part of it. We want to make THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE you understand what we are wanting (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM): Let from you. It is no longer an open him finish his reply. (, Interruptions) question. How can you say you will consider it? Please tell whether you carry out this commitment or not? SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: It was decided by the earlier Govern­ We have seen every Government how ment. You have only to commit and it has functioned, how it has met the say when you will do it. commitment of the other side. Don’t tell all these things to me. {Interrup­ SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: tions) This is a question of mere implemen­ tation. That is all. ( Interruptions) SHRI P. M. SAYEED: The point h that he will consider it sympatheti­ SHRI NIRMAL KANTI ‘CHAT­ cally. But he wants some. time. (Inter­ TER JEE : Were you not a Member ruptions) when this question was being decided 329 Rly. Budget , 1991-92—SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 330 Gen. Discuss ion & (Rlys-), 1991-92 unanimously in this House? After SHRI AMAL DATTA: If you do ■that you took office. You knew how not believe us, you get the poceed- passionate the entire House was on ings and check it up. ( Interruptions) the question of reinstatement of these people. You were aware of that. And SHRI P. M. SAYEED: Let him now you ask us to appreciate that you complete. (Interruptions) too are as sympathetic as the rest of the Members of the House are. We MR. CHAIRMAN: Please listen agree. But you have already been to him. He might go a step further. allowed this much of time. Even (Interruptions) when you were presenting the Rail­ way Budget, we wanted an assurance from you. The answer which was given SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: to us by your fellow Members includ­ This morning, when some Members ing Shri Kumaramangalam was that were speaking from the other side, when the reply time would come, we they mentioned everything elaborately. would get the answer. Can that ans­ Had the Members been here, they wer be ‘re-examination of the pro­ would have heard it. blem’? (Interruptions) We are pre­ pared to concede to you. We are as Shri V. P. Singh’s Government of sympathetic as anybody else today. which Shri George Fernandes was a But then the answer should be, “yes, Member, no doubt took decision and the Government decide to reinstate took up to the Cabinet and the Cabi­ them without any condition.” That is net passed. But, thereafter since the the only kind of answer which suits Government had lost, decision was you. (Interruptions) rescinded. (Interruptions) Please bear with me. (Interruptions) SHRI TARIT BARAN TOPDAR: SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT- What is your difficulty in it? (Interrup­ TERJEE: What happened after that? tions) SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT- I would request at least the senior TERJEE: Why can’t you as a vete­ Members who know the functioning ran Member of this House decide to of the Government to tell others ...... implement it? ( Interruptions)...... (Interruptions)

SHRI AMAL DATTA: Do you SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: stand by the commitment given to Please bear with me. No doubt, Shri this House? ( Interruptions) Janeshwar Mishra might have made an announcement here. MR. CHAIRMAN: Please listen to SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: him. Not might have made; he made a (Interruptions) categorical assurance on the 6th of March, 1991. (Interruptions) SHRI RAM KAPSE (Thane): It SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: is a continuous affair. How can you I can tell you only one thing. You negate it? wanted to score a point over me to (Interruptions) imoress the workers outside. You have done that. (Interruptions) SHRIMATI GEETA MUKHER- JEE: May I propose a compromise 17.32 his. At this stage, Shri Basu formula? (Interruptions) Will you Deb Acharia and some other hon . listen to my compromise proposal? Members came and stood on the (Interruptions) floor near the Table 22—14 LSS/ND/91 331 Rly. Budget, 1991-92 JULY 25, 1991 Dent, for Grants 332 Gen. Discussion & (Riys.), 1991-92

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please go back MR. CHAIRMAN: I think the as­ to your seats. surance is sufficient. Let us go ahfcad. 1734 his. At this stage , Shri Basu (Interruptions) Deb Acharia and some other hon. Members went back to their seats. MR. CHAIRMAN: A minister cannot assure as to what he will say SHRI C K. JAFFER SHARIEF: in the Cabinet because it is all confi­ Sir, 1 thought that I am a member of dential proceedings in the Cabinet. the family and if a young brother Therefore I think this assurance is says something in a good spirit, not sufficient meaning anything, in a lighter vein, they will be considerate. I did not {Interruptions) know that they will get so much 17.39 hrs. [MR. SPEAKER in the offended. All that I was trying to ex­ Chair ] plain was ...{Interruptions)... that the procedure which has to be completed SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: is not yet completed. It has to go to I personally feel that I am the most the Cabinet again which needs time unfortunate because I remained only That is all I wanted to say when I a worker and I did not become an said that I have sympathetic conside­ advocate like him. ration. { Interruptions) SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER­ MR. CHAIRMAN: Let him go to JEE : As a worker you should be other points. candid. Don’t try to play with workers. You should be candid enough to [Translation] say, yes that commitment will be SHRI RAJENDRA AGNIHOTRI maintained and the formality of Cabi­ Mr. Speaker, Sir, at least they should net approval will be taken and I shall fulfil the commitment made by the announce in the House the date of Railway Minister of the previous gov­ implementation. We want that. ernment. Further, they can do what­ ever they are doing. (Interruptions) [English] SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: Sir, the learned legal luminary knows MR, CHAIRMAN: This is that it is a collective responsibility. enough now. Let him complete the CInterruptions) reply. SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE: SHRI SOMNATH CHATER- 1 am trying to resolve this. I appreci­ JEE: I only wanted an assurance that ate what he has said that the formali­ he will go to the Cabinet and he him­ ties will have to be completed because self recommend for its acceptance. it requires the formal Cabinet appro­ That does not depend on the Cabinet val again. Let him assure the House and joint responsibility. Let him give that he will go soonest to the Cabinet a commitment that he will recommend with his recommendations for accep­ for its acceptance. {Interruptions) tance and for its early implementation. Let him say that. Merely saying that SHRI P. M. SAYEED: He has he will take it to the Cabinet is not gone on record saying that he will enough. He should go with his re­ take it sympathetically. What more commendation and if his recommen­ do they want? (Interruptions) dation is rejected we would not ac­ cent that. He has to mentioned a date SHRI A CHARLES : Mr. Speaker, and fix a date for its implementation. Sir, we want a ruling from you. (In­ {Interruptions) terruptions) 333 Rly. Budget, 1991-92 SRAVANA 3. 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 334 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Railway all the process in this regard. The pre­ Minister, please take your seat. Hon. sent Railway Minister had been ap­ Members, please take your seats. I prised about it by the hon. Members think you are putting forth your points when he presented the Rail-budget. of view very forcefully and rightly. Now. he is backing out from this. The Nobody can ...... House will not tolerate such things. (Interruptions) (Interruptions)

SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHAT* [English] TERJEE: Sir, we fail to elicit a siny pie answer from him. That is what MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, we are trying to get. ( Interruptions) please take your seats first. Are you in a mood to hear what I am going MR. SPEAKER; If you do not to say? want to be helped, I cannot help you. (Interruptions) SOME HON. MEMBERS: Yes, Sir. SHRI C.K. JAFFER SHARIEF. MR. SPEAKER: I think, the point Sit, I icnour the sentiments express­ which you were making was that it ed by hon. Members regarding their should be discussed in the Cabinet. concern for the safai karmachari work­ ing on the railways. (Interruptions) (Interruptions)

[Translation] MR. SPEAKER: You are again jumping up. SHRI RAJENDRA AGNIHOTRI; Mr. Speaker. Sir, during the tenure of (Interruptions) the previous government you were also part of this House. The whole House MR. SPEAKER: You are again was unanimous on this point and the getting up. then Government had fully assured this House about it and when the hon. (Interruptions) Railway Minister was presenting the Railway Budget, this issue was rais­ MR. SPEAKER: I will request ed... (Interruptions)... you will have Mr. Chatterjee to speak. to asst .re this House in this regard. Sir. this question was raised when Railway Minister was presenting SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER­ the Railway budget and he was re­ JEE : Sir, it js a case of dismissal of minded. about the commitment made several railwaymen under Rule 14(2) by the Railway Minister of the pre­ which precludes any inquiry and vious Government.. .(Interruptions)... show-cause. We have been demand­ The w'lole House was unanimous on ing reinstatement. The Janata Dal this issue and this assurance was given Railway Minister Mr. George Fernan­ that.. .(Interruptions)... The employees des, had announced that he had issued dismissed during the strike. would be the order for their reinstatement. It reinstated and the wards of those had been approved by the Janata Dal employees who have already been Cabinet. Then, it appreared that it retired would be given jobs. The was rescinded because the BJP had whole House had supported this move withdrawn its support. (Interruptions) with one voice and the then Railway Minister Shri Janeshwar Mishra stated that it will be brought before the SHRI RATILAL VARMA: It Council of Ministers after completing was not on that point. (Interruptions) 23—14 LSS/ND/91 335 Rly. Budget , 1991-92 JULY 25, 1991 Dent, for Grants 336 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

Sh r i so m n a t h c h a t t e r - THE MINISTER OF STATE IN JEE: That was what he had told. THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS Then, the matter came up again. (SHRI M. MALLIKARJUN): If I When the next Government support­ recollect my memory, Mr. Janashwar ed by the Congress Party came, Mr. Mishra himself committed to this Janeshwar Mishra, ex-Railway Mini­ House: “I have to go to the Cabinet.” ster, also made that commitment on This is what we have told today. (In­ the 6th of March, 1991, on the floor terruptions) You go and refer it to of this House. (Interruptions) the Library. (Interruptions) Mr. Jane­ shwar Mishra himself assured that It was a unanimous demand from he has to go to the Cabinet. all sections of the House. My esteem­ (Interruptions) ed colleagues. Mr. Kumaramangalam, Mr. Harish Rawat—I believe, Mr. MR. SPEAKER: I would request P. M. Sayeed also—and others came the Members not to interrupt me to the well of the House because the when I am speaking so that I can help feelkig was so high that the railway- both the sides to resolve this issue. men were being unjustly treated. It did happen. Only after Mr. Janesh­ (Interruptions) war Mishra gave a categorical assu­ MR. SPEAKER: If the Hon. Mini­ rance about the implementation of the ster has said that T am going to decision, the House accepted it and consider this matter sympathetically’, they went back to their seats. you can take it that it is an assur&ffce Now, we raised this matter again on the floor of the House. when this new Government came. It (Interruptions) was said that in his reply that the Rail­ way Minister would deal with this. MR. SPEAKER: This is the legal We expected that the decision for im­ position. And if he has to help you plementation will be given. Today, he and do something sympathetically, all has said, uHe will consider the matter that is necessary for this purpose is sympathetically.” Then, after this he is expected to consult his Mem­ pressure, he now says: He will have bers in the Council of Ministers and to take it to the Cabinet. he is expected to take an appropriate decision. I think, this should be more We say very well that the formality than sufficient. of the Cabinet approval has to be there. We understand that. But let (Interruptions) him give a commitment that he will MR. SPEAKER : If you are playing recommend to the Cabinet acceptance upon words, that is a different thing. of this proposal, that is. reinstatement. If he has said that ‘I am going to AN HON. MEMBER: How can consider this matter sympathetically*, he give it? it is an assurance given on the floor of the House. SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- JEE: He can give it—it is not a ques­ (Interruptions) tion of joint responsibility—and that MR. SPEAKER:It is not necessary he will ask for earliest implementation now. of the commitment, namely, reinstate- (Interruptions) nient of these employees who are out of job for eleven years. We want fhis MR. SPEAKER: Please under­ categorical assurance. stand. (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I am going tc MR. SPEAKER: Now, if the help both of you. It is an important Minister makes a statement on the point. floor of the House, you say, that he (Interruptions) is making a statement on the floor 337 Rly. Budget, 1991-92—SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 338 Gen. Discussion & (Riys.), 1991-92 of the House. His very words, which Sir, let me repeat to the august he is using on the floor of the House, House that basically I am a passenger, are statements. And you have to attach I have kept this fact in mind while importance to it. It does not mean formulating the Budget. ( Interrup­ that ‘I assure you’ means ‘1 assure tions) you’. If he says that he is going to consider it sympathetically; it is an SHRI RAM KAPSE: What about assurance which can be looked into the sub urban railway? You have not by the Assurance Committee in that referred to it as yet. Committee meeting. It is not an issue. {Interruptions) SHRI JAFFER SHARIEF: I had referred to it but you were no* here. I must adopt your realistic SHRI NIRMAL. KANTI CHAT- objective approach rather than mak­ TERJEE: I would like to draw your ing announcements rolling out in mic- attention exactly on this point. It is cession. There is nothing to bargain a commitment to the House. We want for a passenger. I must be sincere and him to say that while he has given a honest to the people outside and Mem­ commitment to this House, that will bers here. I seek their sympathy in be honoured. We want nothing else. the overall interest of the economy of Let him say that that commitment will the country so that this system runs be honoured. That is all we want now. efficiently. {Interruptions) SHRI SAIFUDDIN CHOWDHU- SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- RY: May I draw the attention of the JEE: Sir, in view of your understand­ hon. Minister? A commitment was ing and observation and for our res­ fJven by the then Railway Minister pect to the Chair, we shall wait till during the Janata Dal Government re­ the first of August. ( Interruptions) garding a suburban section in the Eastern Railways. Bandel-Katwa was made a suburban section 20 years SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: ago. But it has riot been developed Sir, 1 am grateful to you. I honour the so far. The commitment given was sentiments expressed by the hon. that electrification programme will be Members regarding their concern for undertaken there. I had talked to you the safai karamcharis working on the rnd you were kind enough to listen to Railways and the plea that privati­ me sympathetically. The people there sation of this activity may lead to art really expecting that you will their exploitation. Therefore, 1 have make a commitment and include it in decided that this area will not be the works programme. We know that privatised.. .(Interruptions)... I share it is miserable travelling on that line. the anxiety of the hon. Members re­ You have to do something for them. garding the Budgetary support for the May I expect a commitment in this Railways as an important infrastruc­ regard? ture. Overall constraint of resources {Interruptions) iii recent years has resulted in lesser Budgetary support in the Seventh MR. SPEAKER: If you do apt Plan as compared to previous Plan have the information, please send it periods. It is hoped that when the to the members later. Eighth Plan is formulated, higher Budgetary support would be extended SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: \ykh due regard to the needs of the We have asked the Planning Commis­ Railways for providing adequate sion. We may await their reply. transport effort for the economy. (Interruptions) 33£ Rly. Budget, 1991-92— JULY 25, 1991 Dem. for Grants 340 Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

SHRI SAIFUDDIN CHOWDHU- I just want to remind the hon. Mini- RY : This is a kind of reply that is sier about one thing. His predecessor expected. But he was searching for Shri Janeshwar Mishra made a com the‘papers to give a proper reply. mitment on the floor of the House Why don’t you give him time to search that ex-MPs would be given railway the papers? passes. As you know, every Member of Parliament is a prospective ex­ SHRI RAM NAIK (Bombay^ member of Parliament ...... North): Prof. Kapse, some other mem­ bers and I have demanded a separate MR. SPEAKER: Well, we would independent autonomous corporation very much like you to be in the House and a zone for the Suburban Railway always...... of Bombay. That point has not been replied to. We have also demanded SHRI P. M. SAYEED: Therefore, the withdrawal of the hike in the fares 1 would request Shri Jaffer Sharief to of Suburban rail way... {Interruptions) make a comment on these railway passes for ex-Members of Parliament. MR. SPEAKER: If he has not res* ponded, you can take it that at pre­ SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: sent he is not doing it. Why talk of the commitment of Shri Janeshwar Mishra only? One day or SHRI RAM NAIK: But with re­ the other, all of us are going to be gard to the separate and independent ex-Members of Parliament. To honour zone, he can reply. He can say whe­ this commitment is more to my ad­ ther he considers it or not ...(Interrup­ vantage. Now I would like to mention tions) only this much. I am quite sympathe­ tic to this view. There are certain MR. SPEAKER: If you all speak norms which are to be taken into con­ like this, it is not proper. Please take sideration to decide this issue. First, your seats. we should go into those norms. I can jn!y assure you that I will try to (Interruptions) come back to you very early with all sympathy. (Interruptions) [Translation] SHRI DAU DAYAL J O p i : Mr. SHRI SRIKANTA JENA: I too Speaker, Sir, the hon. Minister has request the hon. Minister to listen to not mentioned anything about Bombay me with kind and sympathetic consi­ Suburban Railway in his iqpiy I re­ deration. You know the Railway De­ quest that hon. Minister should give partment have continuously nejjjected the reply of that part also, \lmerrup- Orissa, specially the South Eastern tions) Railway. We have been demanding Daitari-Paradeep new line and the Railway Minister said that the prio­ [English] rity will be given to the backward re­ gions. The Government of Orissa has SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: been continuously approaching the I have already stated that I have re­ Railways authority that this should be ceived more than 80 to 90 points. I taken up in the 8th Five Year Plan. have assured them that I will be writ­ May I request the Hon. Minister to ing to them separately. include this Daitari-Paradeep line be­ cause the Commerce Minister will also SHRI P. M. SAYEED: Mr. Speaker agree that this line helps in the ex­ Sk, because of your timely arrival, we port of goods. May I., request tlie have averted a serious railway acci­ Minister to consider this sympatheti­ dent here. cally. May I also request the Railway H i Rly. Budget>1991-92—SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) Dem. for Grants 34l Gen. Discussion & (Rlys.), 1991-92

Minister to include some portion of SHRIMATI GEETA MUKHER- Kharagpur-Cut tack railway line for JEE: Sir, through you I would re­ electrification. quest the hon. Minister, who is a very good friend of ours to examine Tam- MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister you lur-Digha railway line which is out­ please note down all the points and standing for a long time and which at one go you can reply. was actually proposed during Shri Ghani Khan’s tenure, 1 hope he will SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- answer this. JEE: Most humbly, may I request the Hon. Minister to find out the slips of [T ranslation] papers. He is loosing them, 1 find Will you please reply about the Khana- SHRI DATTA MEGHE (Nagpur): Saintia line shortly because we have Mr. Speaker, Sir. the Vidarbha Ex­ to write to our people may I also re­ press train runs 2-3 days in a week. quest him to consider it sympatheti­ It should run every day. The Bombay cally. Express also needs attention of the Railway Board. I have written many SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: letters regarding Kamthi-Wadi defen­ Sir, the hon. Minister has not men­ ce line but nothing has been done in tioned anything about giving recogni­ this regard. Nagpur has a big railway tion to RPF Association. An order station. There was proposal for open­ was issued by the former Railway ing another booking office after con­ Minister Shri Janeshwar Mishra and structing a new platform, on the side a Statement was also made in this very of Cotton Market but nothing has House. been done yet in this regard. I request you to expedite this matter. While taking part in the discussion 1 also referred to a letter from Shri [English] Mishra to Shri Kumaramangalam re­ garding restoration of recognition to MR. SPEAKER: I think that Mem­ RPF Association. That order has bers just want to say that some rail­ already been issued. Decision has way line should be started. I would request the Members to write to the already been taken. I referred to that Minister and I would also reqpacst the letter today. Minister to reply to them. 1 would like to know whether the Railway Minister would consider along [Translation] with reinstatement of victimised dis­ DR. LAXMI NARAYAN PAN missed railway employees the restora­ DEYA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would tion of recognition to Railway Protec­ like to suggest that the hon. Minister tion Force. An order has already been should give written replies to those issued. So, no money is involved in cut-motions which have not been an&- it. 1 would like to know whether the weied in the House. Railway Minister can make this com­ mitment in the House or not. MR. SPEAKER: He mentioned it a number of times in his replies. He MR. SPEAKER: Time is already has himself stated it. ovei. I think the House will continue till the item under discussion is dis­ (Interruptions) posed of. [English] (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: A number of cut MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, you motions have been moved by Mem­ please note down all the' points and bers to the Demands for Grants (Rail­ at one go you can reply. ways) for 1991-92. Shall I put aU the |43 Budget, 1991-92-- JULY .25, 1991 Dm , far Grants $44 Gen• Discussion & (Riys.), 1991-92

c^t motions to the vote of the House MR. SPEAKER: I shall now put together or does any hon. Member the Demands for Grants (Railways) want aaay particular cut motion to be for 1991-92 to vote. * pu^ separately? The question is: ; I think, they agree to it. ‘‘That the respective sums not exceeding the amount- shown in shalLnSQw put all the cut motions the fourth column of the Order which have been moved together to Paper be granted to the President the vote of the House. of India out of the Consolidated Fund of India, to complete the All the cut motions were put and nega­ sums necessary to defray the tived . charges that will come in the coarse of payment during the year ending 31st day of March, 1992. SHRI SOMNATH CHATTER- in respect of the heads of demands 3E£: We want to give them a little entered in the second column chance to behave. Therefore, we are thereof against Demand Nos. I not pressing them for vote. to 16.”

L ok S \ b h \ List of Demands for Grants (Railways) for J991-92 Voted by Lok Sabha

No. of Name of Demand . Amount of Amount of Demand Demand for Dem and for Grant on Account Grant voted by voted by the Lok Sabha House on 11-3-91

4 2 3 4 : '

Rs. Rs. 1.. Railway Board . . . 3.69,09,000 7.38.17.000 2; ^Miscellaneous Expenditure (General) . 24,37,58.000 48,75,16.000 3. General Superintendence and Services on Railways . 173,30,99,000 346.61,99,000 4. ; Repairs and Maintenance of Permanent Way and Works . 351,43,01,000 688,36,02,000 5. impairs, #nd Maintenance of Motive 274,98,71,000 549,97,42,000 6. Repairs and Maintenance ofXarriages and Wagons . 371,10,34,000 735,20.67,000 7. Repairs and Maintenance of Plant and Equipment . . . 185,80,79,000 357,07,57,000 & Opeiafw^g Expenses - Rolling Stock ^90,73,11^ _ 581,46,22,000 9: deratingExpend Traffic 562.15.41,000 .1124,30^3^00 345 Appropriation (,Rh's.) SRAVANA 3, 1913 (SAKA) No: S. Ml 346

1 ,A.

10. Operating Expenses-'Fuel 638.48.01.000 1247,50,03,000 11. Staff Welfare and Amenities 127.80.31.000 255,60,62,000 12. Miscellaneous Working Expenses 194.01.82.000 363,53,65.000 13. Provident Fund, Pension and other Retirement Benefits 323.18.52.000 646,37 m ,000 14. Appropriation to Funds 1040,66.67,000 2316,33,33.000 15. Dividend to General Revenues, Repay­ ment of loans taken from General Revenues and Amortization of Over- Capitalization 8,73,54,000 1138,26,46,000 16. Assets—Acquisition, Construction and Replacement Revenue • ♦ 16,00,03,000 29,00.07,000 Other Expenditure Capital . 1861,45,16 00D 4217,15,19,«00 Railway Funds * 800,79,36.000 1584,58,71,000

The motion was adopted .

18.06 hrs. SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF; 1 introduce #*the Bill. THE APPROPRIATION (RAIL­ WAYS) NO. 3 BILL* MR. SPEAKER: The Minister may now move the Bill for conside­ THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS ration. (SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF): 1 beg to move for leave to introduce a SHRI C. K. JAFFER SHARIEF: Bill to authorise payment and appro­ 1 beg to move: priation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India “That the Bill to authorise pay­ for the services of the financial year ment and appropriation of cer­ 1991-92 for the purposes of Railways. tain sums from and out of. the Consolidated Fund of India for MR. SPEAKER: The question: the services of the financial year “That leave be granted to intro­ 1991-92 for the purposes of Rail­ duce a Bill to authorise payment ways, be taken into consideration. and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated MR. SPEAKER: The question is: Fund of India for the services of “That the Bill to authorise pay­ the financial year 1991-92 for the ment and appropriation of cer­ purposes of Railways.” tain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for The motion was adopted. the services of the financial year ♦Published in the Gazette of India, ** Introduced with the recommend­ Extra Ordinary Part II, Section 2, ation of the President. dated 25-7-1991.