LOK SABHA ___

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Thursday, March 12, 2015 / Phalguna 21, 1936 (Saka) ______

OBITUARY REFERENCE

HON'BLE SPEAKER: I have to inform the House about the sad demise of two former members Shri Ram Sunder Das and Shri Dadashivrao Dadoba

Mandlik.

Shri Ram Sunder Das was a member of the Tenth and Fifteenth Lok Sabhas representing the Hajipur Parliamentary Constituency of . Shri Ram Sunder

Das served as a Member of the Business Advisory Committee; General Purposes

Committee and Committee on Energy during the Fifteenth Lok Sabha. Earlier,

Shri Ram Sunder Das served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from April, 1979 to

February, 1980. He was also a member of Bihar Legislative Council from 1968 to

1977 and Bihar Legislative Assembly from 1977 to 1980.

Shri Ram Sunder Das passed away on 6 march, 2015 in at the age of

94.

Shri Sadashivrao Dadoba Mandlik was a member of the Twelfth, Thirteenth,

Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lok Sabhas representing the Parliamentary Constituency of . An able parliamentarian, Shri Mandlik served as a member of various parliamentary committees during his long and active career.

Earlier, Shri Mandlik was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for four terms from 1972 to 1978 and 1968 to 19998 and served as Minister of State, irrigation, Education and Resettlement in the Government of Maharashtra from

1993 to 1995.

Shri Sadashivrao Dadoba Mandlik passed away on 10th March, 2015, 2015 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra at the age of 80.

We deeply mourn the loss of our former colleagues and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved families.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

SUBMISSIONS BY MEMBERS

(i) Re: New evidence which has come to light in respect of release of

Masarat Alam, separatist leader from Jammu and Kashmir.

THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH) responding to the issue raised by several hon'ble Members said: I had made a statement in respect of a separatist of Jammu and Kashmir, Masarat Alam on 9th

March in this House. The statement I had made was based on the inputs received from Jammu and Kashmir Government. The same day, I had stated that I was not satisfied with the report received from the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Now, the report has been received from the State Government and I have risen here to give the information to the Members in the House. The State Government has informed that 27 criminal cases are continuing against Masarat Alam Bhat.

Masarat Alam Bhat has been booked eight times, since February, 2010 under

Section 8 of the Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act of 1978. The last such detention order was issued by the District Magistrate, Jammu on 15.09.2014. Such detention order issued by the District Magistrate, Jammu is to be approved by the

State Government within 12 days of the issuance of such detention order as per

Section 8(4) of the Public Safety Act. The detention order issued by the District

Magistrate, Jammu on 15.09.2014 was received in the Home Department of

Jammu & Kashmir on 09.10.2014 after the lapse of 23 days and hence the same could not be approved. The State Government has further informed that there were no fresh grounds for detention as verified from the District Magistrate, Jammu.

The grounds based on which earlier detention orders were quashed by the hon.

High Court and this detention order contained the same old grounds of detention.

The hon. Supreme Court of had also, in March 2013, observed that if any fresh detention order is issued by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to Masarat Alam Bhat, the same shall not come into force for a period of one week from the date of communication of the order to enable him to pursue appropriate legal remedy. After some correspondence with the District Magistrate,

Jammu and State Law Department, the State Government wrote to the District

Magistrate, Jammu on 04.02.2015 vide their letter No. Home/PD/01/2014 dated

04.02.2015 informing that the detention order dated 15.09.2014 issued by him ceased to remain in force. The District Magistrate, Jammu was further informed that a fresh order can, however, be issued for detention of the detainee after following the procedure prescribed in the Public Safety Act and directions of the hon. Supreme Court. Thereafter, the detenue was released on 07.03.2015. The

State Government has also informed that a proper system is in place to have an effective surveillance over Masarat Alam Bhat‟s activities. As and when anything adverse surfaces, appropriate action as envisaged by the law will be taken. The intelligence apparatus and local police work in tandem thereby facilitating planning of advance and adequate deployment of law and order components for maintenance of peace and order in areas likely to be visited by Masarat Alam Bhat and other separatist elements. The Home Ministry, Government of India, is issuing an advisory to the Government of Jammu & Kashmir on the lines after receiving information from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir: All 27 criminal cases registered against Masarat Alam Bhat should be pursued vigorously and steps also taken as per law to challenge the orders pertaining to grant of bail to him in such cases A close surveillance must be ensured on such of the activities of Masarat Alam Bhat and his other associates and followers, which are detrimental to public order or the unity and integrity of the country in general and the State of Jammu &

Kashmir in particular. Anything coming to adverse notice must be promptly reviewed in the light of the Public Safety Act and appropriate action taken immediately. The Government has issued this advisory as well: The State

Government will ensure that the surveillance and monitoring of the activities of

Masarat Alam Bhat and his associates and followers as mentioned above, is done in close tandem with the Central Government security and intelligence agencies in the larger interest of maintaining peace and public order and normalcy in the State.

(ii) Re: Reported statement made by a Retd. Judge denigrating

Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose.

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SKILL

DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND MINISTER OF

STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI

RAJIV PRATAP RUDY) responding to the issue raised by several hon'ble

Members said: The point which has been raised by hon. Members is of course a valid point. Such a statement made by an individual was taken up in the other

House is condemnable. We accept the feelings of this House. Such a remark is a derogatory and we do not accept it. We appreciate the sentiments of the Members and the House would appreciate this point that no one has the freedom to make such statements.

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) SHRI OM BIRLA laid a statement regarding need to optimize the

utilization of funds collected under Building and Other Construction

Workers' Welfare Cess Act, 1996 for the welfare of labourers.

(ii) SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA laid a statement regarding need to introduce

flight either on Udaipur-- or Udaipur-Jaipur- route.

(iii) SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL laid a statement regarding need to put

to use a new underground water reserves exploration technology named as

'God Energy Technology' invented by a Geologist from Bundelkhand region

of .

(iv) SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI laid a statement regarding need to frame a land-

policy to enable private Institutions and Trusts to set up new schools in

Delhi.

(v) YOGI ADITYANATH laid a statement regarding need to set up a new unit

of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited in Gorakhpur, .

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker. (vi) SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI laid a statement regarding need to improve

the capacity of jails and living conditions of prisoners in the country.

(vii) SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIA laid a statement regarding need to

improve BSNL connectivity in Amreli district of Gujarat.

(viii) SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN laid a statement regarding need to construct a rail-

cum-road bridge on river Brahmaputra to provide rail connectivity in middle

Assam.

(ix) SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY laid a statement regarding need to

curb pilferage of coal from the coal mines of Central Coalfields Limited,

Bharat Coking Coal Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited in .

(x) SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA laid a statement regarding need to

shift the Railway Goods Yard from Jorhat town, .

(xi) SHRI CHAND NATH laid a statement regarding need to withdraw subsidy

on export of meat.

(xii) SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR laid a statement regarding need to revise

the tender rates for the works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in

Maldaha Uttar Parliamentary Constituency, West .

(xiii) SHRI M. UDHAYAKUMAR laid a statement regarding need to provide

adequate irrigation and cold storage facilities to flower and vegetables

growers in Dindigul Parliamentary Constituency, . (xiv) SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM laid a statement regarding need to

accord approval to the proposal of the Government of Tamil Nadu to

interlink Palar and Pennaiyar rivers and allocate sufficient funds for

rejuvenation of the Palar river.

(xv) PROF. SAUGATA ROY laid a statement regarding need to put a

moratorium on payment of interest on debt by Government of .

(xvi) SHRI SULTAN AHMED laid a statement regarding need to put in place

adequate security measures for safety of documents in Government

Departments and Offices.

(xvii) SHRI RAJAN VICHARE laid a statement regarding need to set up a

hospital equipped with all modern medical facilities in Thane, Maharashtra.

(xviii) SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to provide

reservation to women in State Bar Councils, Bar Council of India and

medical Council of India.

(xix) MOHAMMED FAIZAL laid a statement regarding need to dispense with

the provision in service rules of 51 Battalion of India Reserve requirement

mandatory service in Union Territories of Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu

and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. (xx) SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA laid a statement regarding need to

initiate steps for setting up the Kishan Channel Telecast Centre in Hisar,

Haryana.

BUDGET (RAILWAYS), 2015-2016 - GENERAL DISCUSSION

DEMANDS FOR GRANTS ON ACCOUNT (RAILWAYS), 2015-2016

SUPPLEMENTARY DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (RAILWAYS), 2014-2015

AND

RESOLUTIONS

Re: Appointment of Parliamentary Committee & Recommendation to Rajya Sabha

DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU: This Budget is not a mere statement of the figures of income and expenditure but also it provides for a vision how the railways are going to be developed in future. The Government has given preference to complete the on-going projects. It has not increased the fares. The

Government has made provision for augmenting the general coaches thereby increasing the number of seats for the common man. It has also made provision for ease of ticketing, increase in the speed of trains and mobile charging facilities.

It also gives emphasis on cleanliness and safety. The hon. Minister has taken a new route of developing infrastructure by attracting investment under the PPP mode. I request the hon. Railway Minister to establish a railway zone with its headquarters at Visakhapatanam. If the Railway Ministry allots more rakes for evacuation of dusty cargoes at Port Trust, the city will be saved from pollution. I request the Government to allot more number of rakes to Waltair

Division for evacuation of dusty cargoes. There is a need to introduce a new tourist train between Visakhapatnam and Araku with vista dome coaches, that is, see-through glass coaches so that tourists can enjoy the tunnels and valleys while travelling to Araku. There is also a demand for a train between Visakhapatnam and

Varanasi. I request the Government to consider re-routing of A.P. Express to run through Visakhapatnam.

DR. SIDHANT MOHAPATRA: The Budget proposals appear to be passenger friendly giving impetus to passenger services, security & safety.

Necessary Budget provision has to be made for the ensuing Naba Kalebara festival and special provision towards running of additional trains, passenger amenities at

Puri, Khurda Road, and other nearby Railway Stations are to be strengthened. The modalities and guidelines of the scheme under PPP mode should be made to ensure total buyback of wagons of railways. The newly commissioned line from Naupada to Gunupur needs to be extended upto /Therubali. A train from to via -Anugul--Jharsuguda touching several industrial towns is a long term demand of the people. A direct

Super Fast train from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai via Secunderabad may be considered as a large no. of people from & North are living in Mumbai. The existing platforms in several stations need to be extended to accommodate more coaches.

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE: I would like to bring it to the notice of the hon.

Minister of Railways that the work of survey for laying railway line from Jammu to Rajouri Poonch has been completed. Hence the work of laying railway line should be started at the earliest. The pace of work of doubling of railway line from

Pathankot to Jammu should be accelerated. An overbridge should be constructed on the railway line from Jammu to Udhampur. Jammu Railway station should be brought under the category of model railway station and two more platforms should be constructed at this Station.

SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL: I represent Damoh parliamentary constituency of Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. In my parliamentary constituency there is Jogeshwar Temple, constructed during the 16th & 17th centuries. It is located at Bandakpur, where there is a small railway station. More facilities should be provided at this station. The work of survey for laying railway line from Khajuraho-Chhattarpur-Bada-, Bandhavgarh and Panna reserve and Damoh has been completed. Therefore work on the said railway lines should be started at the earliest. It is necessary to undertake the work of doubling and tripling of railway tracks and to close level crossings so as to accelerate the speed of trains and prevent accidents. Permission should be granted to construct link roads for villages on railway land and it should be ensured that this work should be completed at the earliest.

PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD: I request the hon.

Railway Minister to set aside a provision in the budget for setting up a separate

Marathwada Railway Zone. Construction work of Solapur-Tuljapur-Usmanabad-

Beed-Jalgaon railway line should be started as early as possible. Similarly,

Kurdwadi-Tuljapur- new railway line may also be constructed. There is need for undertaking survey of Latur-Gulbarga railway line and provide funds for its construction in the current railway budget. Stoppage of trains should be provided at Tadwada (Kalam) station and necessary staff deployed therefor. Latur-

Pune intercity train should be provided a stoppage at Barshi station and stoppage of

Mumbai-Latur express may be provided at Thane station.

SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE: In my Nashik constituency from

July 2015 to June 2016 Simhastha Kumbha Mela is going to take place. So, for the benefit of crores of pilgrims trains coming from various states should have planned stoppage for Nashik Road Station and also at adjacent station. There is no provision to set up Nashik Rail line in this Budget though the State

Government of Maharashtra has agreed to share 50% of the cost of the project.

Rajyarani Express which runs up to LTT Kurla, should be run upto CST. In my Nashik Parliamentary Constituency there is Nashik Traction machine Workshop for production of Railway Engine and production of parts connected to the engine.

Railway is outsourcing job to private agencies such as repairing of engine, transformers. It will be economical for producing and repairing parts in our

Railway premises as the entire infrastructure is ready and also it will help for providing vacancies to youth.

SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: A large area of my parliamentary constituency is completely deprived of railway facility. Lalitpur Singrauli railway track work is lying pending for last two decades, the work it is going on at very slow pace. Hon'ble Minster of Railways has granted more budgetary allocations comparatively in the railway budget. The strict directions should be issued to the concerned officers to speed up the work so that the people of the area may get benefit of the railway facility. DRM office was approved for my parliamentary constituency Singrauli in the past, therefore the office should be opened immediately in public interest. Daily evening train service from Singrauli to

Bhopal should be introduced.

SHRI ANTO ANTONY: The Government has requested to the State

Government of to bear 50% share of the Sabari Railway project. The State

Government has already informed that its inability to bear 50% share of this project. I request that Government to do not bring this project under the new policy of fifty-fifty basis. The survey of extension of Sabari Railway line from Erumeli to

Thriuvananthapuram via Ranni, , Konni and has been completed. I request the Government to allocate fund for extension of this line. A proposal for modernisation of Tiruvally Railway Station under PPP model is pending in Railway Ministry. I request the Government to sanction the proposal urgently to modernize Tiruvalla Railway Station. Stoppage for all trains may be granted to Tiruvalla Railway Station as it is the only Railway station of

Pathanamthitta District.

SHRI CHINTAMAN NAVASHA WANGA: I request the Hon'ble

Minister to upgrade Dahnu, Boisar, Plaghar, Saphda, Virar, Nalasupara and Vasai stations. Memo trains upto Umber Gaon, Vepi stations may be introduced from

Palghar. Upgradation of Virar and Vasai stations is also needed. People are demanding new trains from Palghar and Vasai to Gujarat and Thane, ,

Konkan and South India. Construction of Dahanu Road and Nasik Road Railway line may please be started.

SHRI RAM CHANDRA PASWAN: This is a historic and growth oriented budget which gives the a new direction. New train should be introduced to cater to Samastipur, Rosada, and Khagaria in North

Bihar. Earlier it was proposed to provide uniform and fourth grade employee status to the coolies but it has not done as yet. I urge the Government to accord the status of fourth grade employee to the coolies. I request the Government to run the trains originating from , directly to , Kolkata and South India via

Gaya, Hassanpur, Rosada. Proposal to construct rail over bridges at railway crossings is a step to reduce accidents. I demand that the following works be completed namely - rail over bridges near Bhola Talkies on Samastipur-

Mujjafarpur line, near Rosada railway station on Samastipur-Hassanpur section, near Sharda Nagar-Sahiyardeeh, between Muktapur and Kishanpur railway stations over Darbhanga-Samastipur Road and on Hajipur-Mahua Road near zonal office.

Survey on Karpurigram to Mahua-Hajipur line has been conducted but the work is yet to start. Funds should be allocated for this work. The work on Muktapur-

Kushveshwarsthan via Scindia rail line should be completed. Funds should be provided for conducting survey on Darbhanga-Kushveshwarsthan, Khagaria-

Kushveshwarsthan, Bahedi-Shivajinagar-Majhaul-Barauni new rail line,

Kushveshwarsthan-Saharsa, Barauni-Hassanpur via Bhagwanpur-Cheria-Bariapur rail lines.

SHRI HARISH MEENA: The provisions made in regard to safety and security of the Indian Railways are welcome steps. The attention has been paid to women and youth also in the budget. I would like to thank the hon'ble Minister for keeping in view the longstanding demand of my constituency, Dausa and allocating additional funds for long pending Dausa-Gangapur railway line and sanctioning overbridge at three important places, underpass at three places and one light overpass. A local train from Bandikui to Jaipur via Dausa should be introduced.

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: Suggestions have been made in this railway budget for once again making the Indian Railways the vehicle of accelerating the

Indian economy. In this budget, my Parliamentary Constituency Jalore has got a gift of electric track in the years to come. If Jalore Station is upgraded then passenger amenities will increase. It will prove beneficial for the granite industry located in this region which will further help in generation of employment opportunities. In this budget, sanction has been accorded for conducting survey of railway line from Pindwara-Sirohi-Baghra due to which alongwith Sirohi district

Headquarters all the villages will be connected by the rail. If the work of electrification and doubling is undertaken and diesel sheds are constructed, it will help in all-round development of this district.

SHRI RAJKUMAR SAINI: The works like increasing the number of coaches, e-ticketing in five minutes, increasing the period of advance booking to four months, construction of over bridges at level crossings, provision of lockers at railway stations, construction of toilets at 650 railway stations and modernisation of toilets-have been proposed in this Budget without increasing fares. Provision of cold storage facilities has been made for bananas, tomatoes and other vegetables. About 9400 kms of railway line are proposed to be doubled or trebled and 7000 kms of new railway lines are proposed to be constructed. Special care has been taken for saving electricity and environment for which it is proposed to set up solar power plants or about 1000 MW on railway land. There is a provision of installing

CCTV cameras and adding additional coaches to special trains. The provision to construct over bridges and under passes at level crossings is a welcome step.

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: The Railways plays a vital role in the development of our nation. I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Railway

Minister towards upgradation of Mangaluru Railway station as World class station.

There is a long pending dream of my people to have a Separate Railway Division for Mangaluru. There is an urgent need to lay emphasis on providing connectivity between inter-cities within the states. At present people in my district are facing various problems like non availability of trains to reach destinations. Therefore I would like to request the hon. Minister to look into this issue and take immediate steps to create a separate railway division at Managaluru. There is an urgent need to introduce more trains between Mangalore and via Hassan. The government should expedite the Shravanabelagola-Nelamangala new line work.

People of had pinned hopes of getting more trains and new railway lines but they are still not disappointed. SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR: For the first time the hon. Minister has given much importance to safety, security and efficiency of the employees without increasing the passenger fare and Railway Minister has taken into consideration providing better amenities for passengers like safety for women, cleanliness, toilet facilities and increasing the average speed of the trains. At Bagalkot Railway station there is only one track for handling of goods. Whereas in my constituency district 12 sugar factories and 2 cement industries and other industries are present and it is very difficult to transport sugar, cement and other materials. Therefore, I earnestly request the hon. Minister to provide more goods handling tracks. The new railway line Almatti-Koppal may be sanctioned at the earliest. Badami,

Pattadakallu, Iohle are tourist sites. Therefore I request the hon. Minister that the over bridge work be taken up at the earliest. In the last Budget 2014-15 the previous Railway Minister has announced Gadag-Pandarapur new train exclusively for tourists but not yet started till now. I request the same may be started immediately. Karnataka be routed via Gadag-Bagalkot-

Bijapur-Solapur at least once a week. Top priority for completion of Kudachi-

Bagalkot rail line must be given. Solapur Mysore Train has to be stopped at

Mallapur station.

SHRI S. R. VIJAYA KUMAR: While welcoming the Diamond

Quadrilateral High Speed Rail Network, I request that high priority routes should be provided to considering the growth potential of the Metro City. The

Railways should allocate more funds through infrastructure financing mechanism to the projects in Tamil Nadu which have been held up for want of funds.

Adequate funds should be provided for completion of the 22 pending projects and taking up of the 10 new projects. The Chennai-Thoothukudi freight corridor,

Chennai-Madurai-Kanyakumari high speed passenger link, -Madurai high speed passenger link may be implemented through a Special Purpose

Vehicle(SPV). The integration of the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System with the

Chennai Metro Rail should be favourably and speedily considered. We hope that the investment funds will be fairly allocated to the railway projects in Tamil Nadu as well.

SHRI TARIQ ANWAR: This Government had increased rail fares by 14.5 per cent on the pretext of increase in diesel prices in international market. Now, when diesel prices are coming down, will the government pass on the benefit to the passengers. Freight rates have been increased. This will lead to price rise. All will welcome the steps of modernization of railways, strengthening of infrastructure and provision of facilities to the passengers. There is a need to pay attention towards cleanliness in the Railways. The food served on trains is not hygienic. There is a need to improve the toilet facilities. When the population of the country is increasing, the number of trains should also be increased to match it. Corruption in reservation is a major problem, it should be addressed properly. NF

Railways needs special attention.

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: Shakuntala Railway narrow gauge to be converted to Broad gauge. Train 17639UP/ 17640 DN Kachiguda Exp. should be run from Akola to . The season ticket service should be provided for commuters travelling between Amravati and by Intercity and other trains on the basis of Mumbai-Pune pattern. Amravati-Pune Express via Manmad should be introduced. It will be very convenient for more than 4000 students studying in

Pune.

DR. A. SAMPATH: While the networking of Indian Railways is growing, the existing 1 million vacancies are not even filled up. The work load of the employees are increasing dangerously. A new Railway Zone having its headquarters in in Kerala should be created and Railway coach factory at should be started at the earliest. Doubling of Railway lines thoughout Kerala and upto Kanyakumari and electrification of all Railway lines is an urgent necessary for us. Work should start for establishment of a

Railway Medical College, in Thiruvananthapuram. Work for starting of a coaching yard at in Thiruvananthapuram district and one at has to be started. Starting of a mineral water bottling plant should be done at the earliest. Adequate staff should be provided for day to day works. At present many refreshment stalls in Railway Stations are not properly maintained. So, the catering needs in some of the Railway stations should be handed over to Kudumba

Shree Units of the Girls and Women's Self Help Groups. Foot over-bridges are to be provided at Nemom, Murkkumpuzha and Railway Stations in

Thiruvananthpuram district. Lights and fans may be switched on in the platforms of railway stations during late evening and nights. to

Thiruvananthapuram/Kochuveli a new train may be introduced on daily basis.

Thiruvananthapuram may be connected with via Howarh. A new

Bangalore to Kochuveli daily train is required urgently via Salem through Tamil

Nadu. Increase in frequency of some trains can also be considered for Kurla-

Kochuveli Garib Rath daily, H. Nizamuddin -Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani

Express and Duranto. It is absolutely necessary to allow stops of all

Express and superfast trains at Varkal Sivigiri. Stoppage of Train Nos.16349 and

16350 should be provided at . New trains starting from Kochuveli and Thiruvananthapuram Central should be given a stoppage at Murukkumpuzha and at Kadakkavur. should be developed. The Sabari rail route should become a reality at the earliest. The recent hike in the freight charges will definitely add more fuel to the fire of agony of the common people. What happened to the budget declarations of the most modern power laundries for

Thiruvananthapuram and Eranakulam? PPP is not a panacea for the illnesss of the Railways. It should get more budgetary support as well as plan funds from the Niti

Ayog. Railway should not be a commercial concern and it can never be. The railways should be continuously and consistently in touch with the concerned state authorities and MPs etc. for the speedy implementation of the projects. We need to construct the ROBs in a time bound manner. The government should favourably consider our demand for a suburban railway system also. At Nemom Railway

Station railway have own land and hence it can be developed into

Thiruvananthapuram South. The Parliament should not be bye-passed. It is the mandate of the people to know about the policies and the practices of the

Government.

SHRIMATI KAMLA PAATLE: In this budget passenger fares has not been increased and emphasis has been laid on augmentation of railway capacity, station managements, catering facility, toilets, drinking water, skill developments, to complete pending projects instead of announcement of new projects and to improve the condition of railways by taking farsighted steps. The completion of rail corridor projects in will give the impetus to development in the

State. I demand stoppage of South Bihar Mail at Janjgir-Naila, Gyaneshwari at

Champa, Mail Express at Akaltara, Kurla Express at Baradwar etc. and also the expansion of platform, construction of sheds and provisions for better passenger amenities at these railway stations. I also demand to run Gondwana Express as fast passenger train between Raigarh to Bilaspur, restoration of Intercity express from

Korba to , to run from Bilaspur to Delhi and Sampark

Kranti Express from Raipur to Nizamuddin on daily basis, to increase the frequency of Narmada Express and introduction of new express train either from

Korba or Raigarh to .

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN: There is no fare increase for passengers but the increase of taxes on goods and services would really increase the prices of essential commodities in our country. So, I strongly object these new charges imposed on parcel services. Adequate allotment should be made for electrification and doubling for new lines. The doubling work from to Trivandrum via

Kottayam and Kochi-Trivandrum via Alleppey is not still complete. More funds should be allotted. The amount allotted for the completion of electrification-

Shornur-Mangalore line needs more attention and more funds. There should be stoppage of Thiruvanthapuram-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Kasaragod district. In Cheruvathur the long pending demand of stoppage for 'Parasuram'

Express Train should be addressed to. In Kottikulam Railway Station the stoppage for the day train is urgently required. It is requested that

Passenger Train declared from Calicut-Mangalore may be started. The newly introduced Kasaragod Baidhoor passenger train should be extended to . KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Railway is the lifeline of the country. Karnataka has only 16.9 km per 1,000 sq km railway network, while

Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Punjab have much higher rail densities. The Government should mull over the possibility of undertaking railway projects on Public Private

Partnership (PPP) basis to ensure that the priority projects are completed in time, in Karnataka. People of my constituency are dreaming for better Railway services, but it is not fulfilled even after decades. I request the Railway Ministry to start the survey work for Shivamoga-Shringeri-Karkala-Mangaluru new line. Konkan

Railway is considered to be the lifeline of the west coast region of the Nation. One of the reasons for the poor financial health of is because of the non-connectivity of this project with any of the major ports under its jurisdiction.

The construction and operation of Konkan Railway line has provided substantial boost to the entire Konkan region. Railway Ministry should take immediate decision to consider the request of coastal people. Large number of people from coastal areas are working in Mumbai. From Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur thousands of boys travel to Mumbai every week. To help them please introduce

'Garibrath' from Mangalore to Mumbai via Udupi. The Bangalore-Karwar,

Bangalore-Mangalore train route needs to be re-routed via Arasikere.

KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: The Indian Railways are a pride, however much the Treasury Bench may want to sound it like an under-performing organization, an organization which is fledgling for funds. They have admittedly said that 23 million passengers travel on Indian Railways. There are more than

12,000 trains and has more than 8000 stations and 3 million tonnes of cargo goes as freight on Indian Railways. Do not use uncompleted projects as an excuse for not starting new lines beyond to my mind. Camouflaged in the garb of bio-toilets,

Wi-Fi stations, designer bed-sheets and fancy meals. The hon. Railway Minister has proposed 17000 toilets. Barrack Valley project was declared in 1997-98.

What are they going to do about connecting Agartala and Bangladesh and

Chittagong and Myanmar? This Government plans to make the ambitious railway line which is called the Diamond Quadrilateral in which north-east is not there.

There was provision in our vision document 2020 for connecting all the capitals of

North-East States.

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA: The present Budget has increased planned expenditure by 52 percent, a separate department has been created for cleanliness and sanitation with the 40 percent increase in the budget. The provisions to upgrade 200 additional railway stations as model station, ticket within five minute, bio-toilets and to increase the number of general coaches upto six are welcome steps of the present budget. No allocation has been made in this year for doubling very old -Manikpur route. I request that Banda to Kanpur

120 km long railway line should be doubled, extend Kanpur-Chitrakut Intercity Express upto , trains like Tulsi Express, Durg Express and Garibrath

Express passing through Chitrakut Dham- a major pilgrimage centre in my

Parliament Constituency- should be run four days instead of two days in a week.

Chambal train should be run on daily basis.

SHRIMATI BUTTA RENUKA: There are many happy things like no increase in passengers fares. It is focus on providing cleaner coaches and stations, priority to women safety, introduction of helpline number, increasing the Nirbhaya

Fund, mobile charging facilities, wi-fi, easy ticketing, refund through banking system, multi cuisine and local food facility through reputed suppliers, to increase the daily passenger capacity and freight capacity. It is quite disappointing that no new train or new specific projects or RoB or new railway tracks are announced.

The combined AP State has projects pending worth Rs. 29,000 crore which need to be completed. As investment of Rs. 8.5 lakh crore is proposed over five years but the specific source of funds are not indicated. The country is afraid of excessive private participation which ultimately may lead to Indian Railway privatization.

This may kindly be avoided. For the Kurnool coach factory, just Rs. 50 lakhs were sanctioned against the required allocation of Rs. 10 crore which again is not very promising sign. Provision of additional reservation counter at Kurnool Railway

Station is needed. There should be an introduction of new Garib Rath train from

Secundrabad to Bangalore via Kurnool, new trains from Kurnool to Jaipur, from Secunderabad to Goa via Kurnool, from Bangalore to Mumbai via Kurnool-

Secunderabad. Stoppage of all express trains, including the and

Sampark Kranti Express, should be restored.

SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN: I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I would like to highlight few important points pertaining to Tamil

Nadu and my Parliamentary Constituency Madurai. Tamil Nadu is progressing in the road transport and related infrastructure. The passenger fares are not increased but by increasing the freight rates, common man is burdened indirectly. Passenger safety, especially the women passengers and cleanliness are given priority in the railway budget. It is very sad that neither train services nor any new railway projects have been announced. Madurai city is one of the important pilgrimage places in the country. It caters the needs of the people of about 12 surrounding districts. Therefore, enhancement of railway infrastructure in and around Madurai is to be given top priority. All trains running between Madurai and Chennai should be converted into Super Fast Express Trains. Coaches of Pandain Express should be modernised. An additional train between Bengaluru and Madurai is to be introduced running in day time. Ist AC coach should be attached in the

Thoothukudi-Mysore Express train which runs via Madurai. Twice a week Duranto

Express should be introduced between Madurai and Chennai. Madurai Railway

Station is a fully deserving station to have satellite railway terminal. Koodal Nagar Railway Station fits well to be made as a satellite terminal to the Madurai Railway station. Koodal Nagar Railway Station should be renovated and made as additional railway station and all trains should be stopped there. Stoppage of all the trains at Thiruparankundram and Thirumangalam Railway Stations is also to be made. Conversion of Thiruparankundram and Thirumangalam Railway Stations also as Model Stations is need of the hour. The new railway line between Madurai and Karaikudi via Melur is to be executed to cover the places in between Madurai and Karaikudi by train. Speedy completion of the doubling of Chennai-Madurai

Railway line, high speed passenger rail link between Chennai-Madurai-

Kanyakumari, high speed passenger rail link between Madurai and Coimbatore are to be executed in a war-footing manner for overall development of the Madurai city and the Tamil Nadu state, as well.

SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ: The four major points of the railway budget are - The feeling of permanent improvements to be perceived by customers and passengers, to make railway travelling safer, modernization of railway and to make railway a self-reliant organization are the focus of attention. Bullet train and

Diamond quadrilateral projects are unique features of the present budget. The steps like Nirbhaya fund, helpline no. 183, and SMS alert will give the feeling of safety to women passengers. I demand RoB/RuB across Kashiv-Nigoi route and

Jamuai-Nigoi route on NH24. I thank the hon. Minister for sanctioning of doubling of 178 km long Doza-Sitapur Cantt, starting the work on Shahjahanpur-Pilibhit railway line and sanctioning 12870 crore rupees for 330 km long Gwalior-

Shahjahanpur pending railway line. There is nearly 1000 acre land lying vacant in

Shahjahanpur which should be used for setting up a university to improve the level of education in the area.

SHRI P. R. SUNDARAM: I urge upon the Railway Minister to give priority to the request made by the Government of Tamil Nadu special refernece to ten major railway projects at a cost of about Rs.1.8 lakh crore. Chennai-Tuticorn

Freight Corridor should be prepared and High Speed Train Railway Lines between

Chennai and Kanyakumari via. Madurai and between Madurai and Coimbatore should be laid. In Namakkal constituency Tamil Nadu an approach road to

Namakkal Railway Station through Thuraiyur road which is beside the railway track should be constructed. Vacant land is also there on the western side of the railway track that is suitable for a new road. It is estimated to cost Rs. 3 crores. In addition to it, the Chennai Express running from Chennai to Salem may be extended upto Nammakal and a computerized reservation counter at Rasipuram railway station may be setup.

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN: I urge upon the Railways not to close down the existing railway pre-reservation counter in Thirupadiripuliyur railway station in Cuddalore. Considering the industrial growth and the establishment of several educational institutions including specialised hospitals, the stoppage facility at Thirupadiripuliyur should be restored. Considering the need of the public

Kullanchavadi railway station should be operationalised and a new railway line may be laid and trains between Cuddalore and Chennai via Pudducherry may be introduced.

SHRI G. HARI: Our leader Dr. Puratchi Thalivi Amma has expressed disappointment that demands from Tamil Nadu have been ignored in the Railway

Budget. About 22 projects are pending due to lack of funds and 10 critical new projects never received financial allocations. No new trains had been announced for Tamil Nadu. Arakkonam is a central place for many hundreds of villages. But most of the trains passing through Arakkonam do not have a stoppage there. I urge upon the Hon'ble Minister to provide stoppage for all the trains which do not have a stoppage now at Arakkonam and to take steps to renovate this old railway station with all modern infrastructures. The platforms No. 1 and 2 at Arakkonam Railway

Station are not able to accommodate the complete trains because of short of its length causing difficulty for the passengers. Therefore, needful should be done on urgent basis in this regard. The railway line work on Tindivanam to Nagari is moving at snail's speed due to paucity of fund. Therefore, it is requested to expedite the said work at the earliest, by allocating sufficient funds for the same.

Earlier trains were stopped at Itchiputhur and Sholinghur near Murudalam ticket counter facilities were existed. But these were discontinued. Therefore, it is requested to restore the stoppage and ticket counter facility there. I urge upon the hon'ble minister to extend the EMU Electric trains upto Thiruttani. There is an urgent need to increase the services of EMU Electric trains running between

Chennai-Katpadi-Chennai to cater the huge passenger traffic.

SHRI M. UDHAYAKUMAR: We regret that the demands from Tamil

Nadu have been ignored in the Railway Budget. About 22 projects are pending due to lack of funds and 10 critical new projects, most of which announced earlier, never received financial allocations. Skill development and self-employment; launching of a coastal connectivity programme this year; 917 safety work projects, to eliminate over 3,000 unmanned crossings in all the States, by 2019, the proposed investment to the tune of Rs. 8,56,021 crore; Satellite railway terminals at 10 select stations are the salient features of the Railway Budget 2015.

Completion of Villupuram-Dindigul and Madurai-Thiruvananthapuram double projects must be get priority. I would request the Union Railway Minister to give his nod for electrification of 140 km. broad gauge section from Karur to Dindigul.

I urge upon the Minister to complete the survey for new line from Dindigul and

Kumuli at the earliest and lay a new line to Sabarimalai route through Dindigul constituency. I would request the hon. Minister to introduce EMU passenger train to operate in Madurai-Dindigul and Madurai-Virudhunagar sectors. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: The hon. Railway Minister has presented a historical budget in which he has strongly indicated the expansion, modernization and to bring concrete changes in railways. He has targeted to increase infrastructure by almost one-third and proposed investment of 8.5 lakh crore rupees in next five years. There is a proposal to put in place a monitoring mechanism to ensure proper utilization of funds besides decentralization of railway management. One important aspect of this Rail Budget is that passenger fares have not been increased to increase the earnings of Railways. This Budget envisages an investment of Rs. Eight lakh fifty six thousand and 200 crore and this will be met from the Insurance, Pension Fund, World Bank, I.M.F., states' share, commercial use of railway land of small cities, CSR Fund etc. Thus, there will be no dearth of funds for the railways. There is a proposal to review the expenses to check leakages besides these concrete measures. A serious effort has been made to put the Railways back on the right track while focusing on creating the basic infrastructure and passenger amenities. The safety of women passengers has been specially taken care of. Many small things like constructing new toilets at 650 railway stations, 1700 new bio toilets, allotting lower berths to elderly persons, women and physically challenged have also been taken care of. The priority of this Budget is to provide safe, comfortable and respectable journey to passengers. DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI: At the outset I thank for not increasing the passenger-fare. I am thankful to Minister of Railways for including my constituency in these nine trains for Mumbai. The headquarters for

Western Railways should be transferred to Ahmedabad Sabarmati and Maninagar stations should be converted into Terminal Stations and stoppage for fast trains should be provided there. Ahmedabad-Mehsana Jaipur-Delhi rail line should be doubled and electrified at the earliest. The survey for Kalol-Bahucharaji-

Chanasma-Ranuj metre guage line has been conducted for conversion into Broad guage line. I request for guage conversion of these lines. Important ports in

Saurashtra should be connected with trains. New Shatabdi train for Ahmedabad-

Rajkot, Dwarka should be started. Train for Ahmedabad-Ramdevra should also be started. Moreover train for Ahmedabad-Shirdi will facilitate to pilgrims. Duranto train for Ahmedabad-Delhi will be beneficial for passengers. Train for

Ahmedabad- should be started and Intercity train between Ahmedabad-

Patan should be started.

SHRIMATI ARPITA GHOSH: Nothing has been provided in this year's

Rail Budget for our state West Bengal by the Railway Minister. Several projects were sanctioned in my parliamentary constituencies when Mamataji was the

Railway Minister. All these projects have come to a standstill since she demitted the office. No fresh allocation has been made for these projects. It is very strange that some of these projects have not find a mention in this Budget. The Balurghat hilly rail line is estimated to cost Rs.200 crore but only a meager amount of Rs.2 crore has been allocated for the same. No allocation has been made for the

Bunyadpur wagon factory. No funds have been provided for most of the projects of the states. We are talking about wi-fi in the 21st century, perhaps the hon.

Railway Minister might have forgotten that there are several places in our country like hilly area of Kushmandi in my area which are yet to be connected with the rail line. I, therefore, request the hon. Minister to kindly re-look at all the projects of my state particularly of my parliamentary constituency Balurghat and ensure the completion of all these pending projects.

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister towards my parliamentary constituency,

Maharajganj which is a very backward area in Bihar. Maharajganj, Ekma,

Mashrak and Daudpur should be developed as model station. Besides, necessary directions should also be issued for the smooth functioning of railway ticket counters there. A rail factory should be set up on the 50 acre land available at

Maharajganj railway station as the land available would be properly utilised besides accruing revenue to the Railways. The unemployed youth would also get employment there. The incomplete gauge conversion work on the Chhapra toThave rail line via Maduada-Masrakh should be expedited. Similarly, the work on the rail line from Maharajganj to Masrakh should also be expedited. A new rail line should be constructed from Chhapra to Raxaul via Dalalpur, Baniapur,

Bhagwanpur, Malmaliya, Mohammadpur, Motihari in order to connect Champaran with train services. The bridge on the Saryu river between Manjhi-Bakulahan which is under construction should be completed at the earliest. The railway station which is under construction at Manjhi should be completed expeditiously.

A rail over bridge should be constructed between Shyamchak and Karinga on the

Banaras and Gorakhpur railway section which falls on N.H. 101. Construction of a railway engine factory at Madauda was announced several years ago. Foundation stone of this factory has already been laid and the process of land acquisition is also going on. The railway department has spent crores of rupees on this but there is a little progress on the work. A halt station should be constructed near village

Mane, Laxmipur between Daudpur and Ekma. The number of platforms should be increased at Chhapra junction and escalators should also be installed there. The

Guwahati Rajdhani Express which plies upto Delhi via Chhapra and Ballia should be made a daily train.

SHRI BAHADUR SINGH KOLI: The Rail Budget presented by the Hon.

Minister of Railway for the year 2015-16 will be remembered as a historical

Budget. There is a need for doubling of Agra-Bandikuin Rail line. Halt of Garib

Rath No 12910/12909 is required at Bharatpur. The present EMU from Delhi to Mathura should be extended upto Bharatpur Junction. New Rail project for

Bharatpur-Kosi is requested to be sanctioned. I demand for construction of Rail-

Over-Bridge at Agra-Sawai Madhopur rail line.

SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: I welcome the Railway Budget due to specially given special mention to security and cleanliness on Railway stations and in rail coaches. I want to bring in your kind notice very important problems of my constituency. Most urgent and important to launch a new train from Shri Anandpur Sahib to Amritsar Sahib via new Morinda Ludhiana and new railway lines from Anandpur Sahib to Amritsar via Garshanker, Mohali to Rajpura,

Rahon to Khanna, Patiala to Nirvana via Samanapatran. Facilities of railway Head at Nangal Railway station and extension of railway platform at Anandpur Sahib is needed. R.O.B. at Anandpur Sahib to Garshankar Road, R.O.B. at Nangal, ROB between Sirhind and Saraibanjara Railway stations, three under passage at

Gurdwara Parivar Vichhora Sahib, second at Morinda- Road, third at

Kurali needs to be constructed. New Shatabdi train, to Ferozepur via

Patiala-Bhatinda, Modern Railway facilities at Anandpur Sahib Railway station and tourist facilities on the said Railway station are also needed.

SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH: In this year's Rail Budget, sufficient funds have not been provided for the remote or backward areas. The area from Kadwal to Macherala is a backward area. This area falls under Mehboobnagar district. Vanparthi, Nagar Kurnool, Kalavkurti, Devarkonda are also backward areas. Such areas should have been given importance in the budget. The railway line between

Jadcharela to Nandyal was sanctioned seven years back but the work has not yet started thereon. Now, it is said that it is not a viable rail line. The major industries have come up along the rail line which passes through Mehboobnagar, Kurnool and Kadappa districts. Besides, a huge agricultural production takes place there. A new rail line on this route would reduce the distance by 127 kms. I, therefore, want that the government should give more importance to the backward areas. The then Railway Minister had announced a railway coach factory at Warrangal. This is a backward area but the work on the above factory has not yet begun. A medical and engineering college was also announced in 2009. These colleges are very important for the area. Therefore, priority should be given to these colleges.

Finally, I would like to say that all pending projects should be completed first.

SHRI VARAPRASAD RAO VELAGAPALLI: There are many happy and joyous things to cheer about in this Budget. Its innovative and a bold one without much financial commitment. There is no roadmap laid to complete the existing projects and to increase the freight capacity by 50%. At least one train from holy place to another holy place Shirdi in Maharashtra is needed.

The Kalahasti-Nadikudi new railway track is pending implementation for several years. A subway is needed on Sullurpet on Chennai-Howrah route. A survey may be conducted to ensure proper stoppages at Sullurpet, Naidupet and Gudur. A road over bridge is needed at Manubolu to connect Krishanapatnam Port and 50 villages to the National Highways. Box type of sub ways may be set up whenever a Level

Crossing is closed. I request that Akkurthi-Yetalur Railway station may be allowed to continue.

SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA: The doubling of rail line from

Jhansi to Kanpur is being undertaken. I would like to thank the hon. Minister for providing Rs.200 crore to expedite work on this project. There is not a single train from Delhi which directly connects my parliamentary constituency. There is one

Shramshakti Express train from Delhi which reaches Kanpur at 6 O'clock in the morning. This train remains stationed at Kanpur throughout the day and if this train is extended upto Jhansi then the passengers of stations between Kanpur and

Delhi could also come directly to Delhi. The Swatantrata Sangram Sainani Train which runs between Jhansi to Kolkata is a weekly train. I demand that this train should be made a daily train. There is one inter-city train in my parliamentary constituency which runs between Jhansi to Lucknow. There is only one AC Chair

Car coach in the train and it is mostly over crowded. I therefore, demand that one more AC coach should be added to the train for the benefit of the passengers.

Moreover, a general coach should also be attached to this train so that the maximum number of passengers could be benefitted. One shuttle plies from Etah to Kaunch. It arrives at Kaunch in the morning and remains stationed there for four hours. I request that this train should be run for Kaunch as soon as this reaches Etah and again it should come back to Kaunch as this will save at least 4-5 hours of passengers who have to wait for a passenger train which departs around 9 or 9.30 a.m. There is a station called Pukhrayan which falls in Kanpur Dehat.

There is no stoppage of any trains. I therefore, request the hon. Minister to provide the stoppage of trains at Pukhrayan station like Pushpak Express, Udyog Nagri,

Chennai-Lucknow Express and Udyogkrami Express which run from Kanpur to

Surat by various names on different days of week for the convenience of the people there.

*SHRIMATI R. VANAROJA: Hon. Railway Minister said that the

Railways Ministry has planned to mobilize more than 1 lakh crore fund through investments from external sources. Hon. Railway Minister has also proposed a new infrastructure financing mechanism in this budget. In order to make Tamil

Nadu progressing further in all fields, the Vision 2023 document released by hon.

Amma. This Vision document highlights about 10 very important railway projects to be implemented in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs.1,88,400 crore. Another 217 projects are also identified in the Vision 2023 document. I wish to urge that these railway projects should be given priority and the State Government concerned

* Original in Tamil should be made a stakeholder. I urge that a dedicated freight corridor should be set up between Chennai and Tuticorin. Also to organize special fund mobilization drive for implementation of high speed rail links between Chennai-Madurai-

Kanyakumari and Coimbatore-Madurai. In order to facilitate pilgrims and tourists visiting, all Express trains going via Tiruvannamalai should have stoppage there. I urge that a new train service should be introduced between Puducherry and

Bengaluru via Tiruvannamalai. The train ticket reservation facility is available only during morning hour at Tiruvannamalai railway station. I urge upon the Hon.

Railway Minister that the train ticket reservation facility should be available up to

8 p.m. I urge that Tiruvannamalai railway station should be covered under Adarsh

Railway stations Scheme and infrastructure and basic amenities should be upgraded.

SHRIMATI P.K. SHREEMATHI TEACHER: I would like to request the

Hon. Minister to implement certain projects relating to the development of railway lines and infrastructure etc. and would draw his attention to the pathetic situation at

Kannur Railway station premises. These proposals include development of , introduction of new trains, construction of new railway lines. I would also like to demand for the development of a railway line connecting the proposed Great Field Airport and Kannur Railway station. Besides, entry of cattle in the premises of Kannur railway station should also be restricted. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: For the first time in the history of railways it is the budget of 2015-16 which can be termed as the one having an all

India perspective and having the capability to take on the global challenges. It is a budget which is pragmatic, balanced and is free from all kinds of prejudices. My

Parliamentary Constituency Chatra is very backward and extremism infested area.

I rise to talk about such a project which had begun 85 years ago. This project was started in Barwadih-Chirimiri in 1930 and this project was meant to bring down the distance between Kolkata and Mumbai by 400 km. A large quantity of coal, bauxite and dolomite is extracted from this region even today and it provides a transportation linkage for these materials to the eastern and western parts of the country. The Chatra-Gaya rail line of this area has been pending since last 15 years. Survey of Tori-Chatra rail line has not been undertaken till date nor any report has been submitted in that regard. I would like to request that all these railway lines should be laid down. A siding on the platform of Tori railway station exist right in between the platforms and coal and bauxite are kept on this siding due to which pollution has made the life of people miserable. Therefore I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister towards this problem. I would also like to say that while making State wise allocation in railway budget you should be mindful of the contribution of a particular State to the exchequer of railways.

There is a project named Lai in Jharkhand. The gauge conversion work of Tori- Chatra-Lohardaga railway line has been pending and 13 projects for doubling of the lines have also been kept pending with the State Government. There is a need to complete them.

DR. BHOLA SINGH: I request that the following trains may be given stoppage at Begusarai: 22411/12 Naharlagun-New Delhi Superfast A/C Express;

15623/24 Kamakhya-Delhi Jodhpur train; 15621/22 Kamakhya-Anand Vihar

Express; 15635/36 Dwarkadham Express; 15227/28 Yashwantpur Express;

15715/16 Garib Nawaj Express; 15933/34 Amritsar-Dibrugadh Express; 12423/24

Rajdhani Express; 15631/32 Guwahati-Bikaner Express; 12501/02 Guwahati-

New Delhi Superfast-Purvottar Sampark Kranti.

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI: I have a few suggestions to improve the railway network in my Parliamentary Constituency. Haveri and Gadag are the most backward districts in Karnataka. I urge the Hon'ble Minister to give due consideration to the following pending railway projects in the Supplementary Rail

Budget, concerning my Parliamentary Constituency. Gadag-Haveri new line is capable of ushering in a new era of economic development. I request that this project may please be included in the Rail Budget 2015-16. Stoppage of 12725/26

Intercity Express may be given at Byadagi and Yelvagi Stations. One minute stoppage may be provided to the following trains at Haveri, the District

Headquarter: Yesvantpur to Hazrat Nizamuddin to Yeshvantpur (Train No. 12629/12630 - Weekly twice via Hubli; Chandigarh to Yeshvantpur to

Chandigarh (Train No. 22685/22686) - Weekly twice via Hubli; Gadag-Bijapur

Passenger Train; Additional passenger trains may be introduced between Gadag to

Bijapur; Additional train may be introduced between Bijapur-Gadag to help passengers catch the trains going to Bangalore, Secunderabad and Mumbai;

Infrastructure facilities may be provided/improved at Gadag, Haveri, Ranebennur,

Byadgi, Yalavagi, Devaragudda Stations. Existing Good shed may be expanded at

Gadag and Byadagi Stations. Stoppage of trains may be provided at Halligudi station. Reservation Quota may be enhanced from Gadag, Haveri, Ranebennur and

Byadagi, for trains running via these stations. Road over Bridges (RoBs) and Road under Bridges (RuB) may be constructed at the railway level crossings at Gadag

City and Byadagi town. Foot Overbridge at JT College Road may be constructed to provide an alternative entry to the Gadag Betageri railway station. To enhance safety of railway commuters in the wake of increased traffic at Haveri railway station, the GRP should create an outpost at Haveri railway station. The length of the 2nd platform at Haveri railway station should be increased. Ladies Boogie should be increased in all passenger trains from Hubli to Bangalore to Hubli.

Platform facility at "KALASUR" village near Haveri station may be provided, as there is already stoppage for all passenger trains. Railway Board should be restructured. SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL: Target fixed to start Bullet trains and to enhance the speed of trains and railway network in the Budget must be appreciated. Jalgaon is a district level industrial town. Thousands of people commutes daily from this station. If stoppage of -Mumbai express is given at Jalgaon and Pachaura, thousands of businesses flourish here and commuters also will be facilitated and railway will also get extra revenue. It is my request that the Bhusawal-Dhulia passenger train which is going to be operational from 14th March, 2015 on experimental basis, I would request to facilitate the stoppage of this passenger train at Mahiji, Mhsawad, Nagardeola, Kajhgaon,

Waghari, and Sidwadi stations also. This will impact more than 7-8 lacs people of my constituency, if the stoppage is not given. It is also essential to facilitate the stoppage of trains of Western Railway at Amalner and Dharangaon stations. I also request to give the stoppage of Patna-Pune express at Jalgaon station, Amrawati express at Pachaura and Chalisgaon, Vidarbh express at Pachaura, Sachkhand express at Chalisgaon, Mahanagari express at Chalisgaon & Pachaura, Karnataka express at Chalisgaon, Navjivan express at Dharangaon and Ahmedabad- express at Amalner. Goods shades located at Jalgaon Railway station must be shifted and constructed outside the city on PPP model on railway land. This would be a matter of relief for the people as well as railway also. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE: Hon. Minister of Railways have made several announcements in this budget. The announcement of undertaking investment to the tune of 8.5 lakh crore for the development of railways in the next five years is one among them. I would like to thank the hon. Minister for making a provision of Rs.

1950 crore for the revival of Thane, Mira road and Bhainder railway stations.

Through this House I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister towards the plan of constructing a new extended railway station between Thane and

Mulund railway stations. Adequate space is available for this railway station and the survey work and feasibility studies have also been completed. So this work should be completed. The Kopri railway bridge at the Kopri-Thane rail line should be extended. Stoppage of Mumbai-Latur Express train should be provided at those Railway Stations. Duranto(non-stop express) should be converted into a limited stop express and it should be given stoppage at all the district headquarters of Mangalore, Kunnur, Calicut and Thrichur. LTT Kochuvalli express which runs for two days in a week should be run daily. Two additional coaches should be connected in all the trains running between Panvel to Kerela. Trivendrum Jayanti

Janta Express should be give a stoppage at the .

SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI: This railway budget is not a budget with announcements alone. The interests of all the sections of the society have been completely taken care of in this budget. In this budget instead of making announcement for new trains more emphasis has been given on completing the old pending projects because more than 600 projects have been pending for the last 30 years. I would like to request that toilets at the Tuglakabad, Bijwasan, Palam,

Shahbad and other places which have been lying closed and unused for months should be made functional. I would also like to request that an under bridge should be constructed at Tuglakabad, Bijwasan, Palam, Shahbad because it is going to benefit 1 lakh people. A foot over bridge should be constructed at Harkeshnagar.

SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: In this Rail Budget, the emphasis has been given on optimum utilisation of available resources, increase in passenger amenities alongwith extension of rail network. Special focus has been given on cleanliness in trains. The security of women, facilities for patients, disabled people and senior citizens have been enhanced. The avenues for utilisation of FDI have been increased and to replace toilets with bio-toilets is an important and a commendable step. I urge the Government to expedites the gauge conversion of Sarai Rohilla-Rewari-Lohari-Jhunjhunu-Jaipur line and to introduce new trains and provide stoppage of certain trains in my constituency.

SHRIMATI HEMAMALINI: It is a growth-oriented Budget. Mathura is an ancient city and also a pilgrim centre which attracts lakhs of devotees everyday.

Mathura Junction is an important Railway Station of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Though it is an important pilgrim centre, yet Mathura has remained neglected on the Indian Railway's map. My demand relates to setting up of a Zonal Railway

Training Institute of North-Central Railways at Mathura, rail coach factory or any other manufacturing unit of Railways at Mathura as well as a Container Depot so that the employment opportunities in Mathura may be increased. An express train to be started between Mathura and Lucknow Vrindavan Station should be upgraded and modernized. Cleanliness of Railways Station at Mathura be ensured.

Provision of drinking water and sanitation, adequate toilet facilities for women passengers be made there. Provision of escalators and ramps for old and physically challenged passengers be made at the Mathura Station. Mathura Station be given heritage station. More coaches be added for Radhani Express.

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: This railway budget contains several laudable points and has paid attention towards creation of facilities but no clear cut road map has been provided as to how the quality of food and water etc. will be improved. The Government is arm twisting the Government financial institutions like LIC for fund mobilization and it is getting funds form LIC. However it has not been made clear as to what will be the rate of interest and other terms and conditions for that investment. Efforts are being made to dilute the social welfare role of the railways. There is need to make the model of the railways sustainable.

Keeping in view the importance of railways in the country, there is a need to stress on making it self-sustainable rather than putting emphasis on PPP and FDI. A train should be started from Rampur which should reach Delhi by traveling through Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. 15662 Kamakhya Express should be run daily. 13409 Jamalpur Intercity should be given stoppage at Taljhadi. 14003

Malda-New Delhi should be run daily. 12041 , 12516 Guwahati

Express, 12510 Bangalore Express, 12514 Guwahati-Secundrabad Express, 12346

Saraighat Express and 12738 Padtik Express should be given stoppage at Pankud.

SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA: I urge upon the Railway Minister that

Uchipulli Railway station may be provided with a stoppage for all trains expedite the gauge conversion project between Chennai and Karaikudi and to reintroduce the earlier popular trains which are not in operation now. I request the Railway

Minister to look out and see Mandapam Railway station continues to have a computerized pre-reservation centre and you may also consider to introduce a superfast day train between Chennai and Rameswaram. The demands of the people of my constituency are as follows : new trains i.e. Rameswarma -Mysore

Daily Exp.; Rameshwaram-Manglore Daily Exp.; Rameswaram-Chennai central or

Chennai Egmore super fast daily Exp.; Rameswaram-Nagore Exp.; Rameswaram- palani intercity Exp.; Rameswaram-salem intercity Exp.; Rameswaram-Madurai passenger and Madurai-Rameswarm passenger should be introduced. Express trains : Manamadurai-Chennai-Manamadurai Silmpu bi weekly Exp.; Madurai

Hazarath Nizamudeen (New Delhi)-Madurai Sampark Kranti Exp. ; Madurai Kurla Exp.(Weekly); Madurai-Chennai-Madurai Vaigai Exp.; Madurai-Chennai-Madurai pandian Super fast Exp. and Madurai - Chennai central-Madurai should be extended upto extended upto Rameswaram in both directions. Passengers trains i.e., Palani-Madurai passenger; Madurai-Palani passenger; Dindigal-Madurai passenger; Madurai-Dindigul passenger; Madurai-Punalur passenger; Punalur-

Madurai passenger; Senkottai-Madurai Evening passenger and Madurai-Senkottai

Morning passenger should be extended upto Rameswaram. The timings of trains i.e. Train No.16101 Chennai-Rameswaram Exp., Train No.16713 Chennai-

Rameswaram Exp., or Train No.56722 Rameswaram-Madurai passenger; Train

No.56721 Madurai-Rameswaram and Train No.56726 Rameswaram-Madurai passenger may be changed accordingly. I urge the Government that trains i.e.

Rameswaram-Trichy-Rameswaram Night passenger trains; Rameswaram-Madurai

Morning passenger train and Madurai-Rameswarm Evening passenger which run on metre gauge line may be reintroduced in broad gauge line.

SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA: It takes 10-15 years in implementing and completing a scheme. Even today several lines are delayed by 15-20 years. The present budget is very good and meant improve the railways. In view of the resources available with railways due attention has been given to improve all services to the passengers and their safety. More allocation should be made for the new railway line Chota Udaipur-Dhar to benefit the citizens of the tribals areas. Provision has been made in the new Budget for electrification and gauge conversion of Miyagaon-Curzon-Dabhoi Samlaya line which will facilitate and became a profit making line. Old Jama Masjid and Pavagarh of Champaner have been included in the world heritage, therefore to augment the tourist facilities there is a need to restore the closed lines from Derol to Champaner Shivrajpur Hallol.

There is a religious place on the banks Chanod and Narmada. Therefore, gauge conversion of Dabhoi-Chanod is required.

Near the Sadhu Tekari of Kewadia in Gujarat, state Government is undertaking the construction of world's highest iron statue which will attract the tourists visiting Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam and statue of Unity. To facilitate the passengers a broad gauge railway line may be layed between Rajpeepla to

Kewadia and connect Tanakhala with Kewadia which will enable the development of the tribal area.

SHRI NARANBHAI BHIKHABHAI KACHHADIA: The railway budget of 2015-16 is a laudable effort. No such budget has been presented during last 65 years. This Railway Budget has been formulated keeping in mind how to ensuring maximum development with the minimum resources. Special attention has been paid towards the poor and path breaking decisions for the development have been taken despite the resources constraint. Special attention towards sanitation has been made in this budget. The gauge conversion work of Dhansa- Jaitalser and Junagarh in my Constituency Amreli was approved in the budget of

2012-13 but no allocation has been made for that purpose in this budget. I would like demand that an amount of Rs. 50 crore should be allocated. The survey of

Khizadiya-Amreli-Chalala-Visavadar-Dhari and Junagarh in my Constituency has been completed two years ago. I would like to urge the hon. Minister that this work should be started at the earliest. If Mahua-Surat train which presently runs on weekly basis is made to run on daily basis it is likely to yield a lot of revenue to the railways. The Surat-Ahmedabad train should be run 7 days a week.

SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH: Major challenges before the Railway System are vast tracks of hinterland waiting for rail connectivity. Of the 674 projects sanctioned in the last 30 years, only 317 could be completed. Most of Gross Traffic receipts is spent on fuel, salary and pension, track and coach maintenance and on safety works. Measures for improving safety and security are multi-pronged approach to eliminating unmanned level crossings; advanced technology for rail-flaw detection-Vehicle Borne Ultrasonic Flaw

Detection System to detect rail and weld fractures and pilot trails on ultrasonic

Broken Rail Detection System (UBRD) at two locations; safety standards to match international practices; simulation Centre to study causes of accidents; pilot project on automatic door closing in mailine and sub-urban coaches and 4000 women RPF constables to be recruited in addition to 7000 RPF constables. Green initiatives through harnessing solar energy by utilising roof top spaces of stations, railway buildings and land including through PPP mode; use of bio-diesel upto 5% of total diesel fuel consumption and increasing bio-toilets in sufficient numbers in trains to mitigate the problem of direct discharge of human waste on the tracks and platforms. Top priority to transparency in administration and execution of projects. E-procurement to be made compulsory for procurement worth Rs.25 lakhs and more. Close monitoring of Dedicated Freight Corridor Project

Implementation of Eastern and Western DFCs; Target of nearly 1000 kms of Civil construction contracts. The Khurda-Bolangir Railway Project in the State of

Odisha has been pending since twenty years. Laying Khurda-Bolangir railway track was first announced two decades ago in 1994-95. This railway project, connects coastal Odisha with western districts remained an important political issue with successive State governments. The decision of bearing 50 per cent of project cost would give much needed push to the project. Low budgetary allocation in Railway Budget for the project had slowed down the pace of execution. The railway track between Khurda road and Daspalla carries huge importance from the point of view of socio-economic development. The process of development would get boost in Bolangir, Boudh, Nayagarh and Sonepur. The state government will bear 50 per cent of construction cost for laying railway track along 177 km between Bolangir and Daspalla and the land required for this section would be provided free of cost. Khurda-Bolangir railway was Odisha's biggest railway project and Odisha was first State in the country to provide free land and part finance any railway project. This long pending Railway Project. It would benefit large number of SC/ST population. This is the only Railway line linking to

Western and Eastern Odisha and it will promote the economical and commercial values. Railway line of the whole country goes via my constituency Khandhamal of Odisha the allocation granted is not sufficient.

SHRIMATI RITA TARAI: I request that Harisdaspur railway station in my constituency , situated near the Buddhist Heritage triangle should be upgraded to facilitate international tourists and passengers. The ongoing works for laying railway line from Haridaspur to Paradeep port is very significant and it has tremendous potential to be developed as connecting point, so carrying capacity of this station should be improved. Trains like Rajdhani Express, Porusottam

Express, Nandankanan Express, Neelanchal Express, Dhauli Express, and all

Express trains plying on this route should be given stoppage at Haridaspur station.

Dhanamandal, Bairi, Jenapur, Baitarani Road, Korai and Jakhapura railway stations need urgent attention for their development. The J.J.K.R Road railway station should also be upgraded which is a great steel hub and one of the most important stations of Jajpur District. Bhubaneswar Rajdhani express via Tata, should be given stoppage at this station. Railway connectivity should be given to Jaipur Town which is historical capital of Odisha. The new railway line survey may be initiated from Jajpur road to Dhamara port via Jajpur town. Jajpur district provides huge revenue to the Railways from freight of the mineral ores and finished steel products and improvement in the infrastructure of this area will boost rural business. It will prove a profitable investment for Railways. I request the

Hon'ble Minister to take action for a technical study to extend rail connectivity to

Dhamara port and ensure upgradation of these railway stations.

SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN: While the announcement for safety for women is welcome, more RPF protection should be provided. The prevailing food safety is highly inadequate as food adulteration is very high and there should be a system in place to check adulteration. The drive for cleanliness on trains is a necessity.

With regard to cleanliness pantry operator should be given the responsibility of cleanliness. I feel that the Budget is extremely disappointing for the State of

Kerala. The much needed Subari-Guruvayur-Thirunnavaya and the Tellicherry-

Mysore line still remains a pipe dream. The Hon. Minister has announced 77 projects but the doubling of the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam via Kottayam and the

Enrnakulam-Kayamkulam via Alleppy and its electrification and the completion of the doubling on the Calicult-Mangalore section and its electrification have seen only token presence. The Government should also consider including the Chennai-

Mangalore line under the fast track work for the third line announced. The fate of the Kanjikode Rail Coach Factory is a matter of grave concern. The only remedy for Kerala's development is creation of a new zone for Kerala. A PHO unit should be established at Shornur Junction in the State. I wish to request for some needs for my Calicut constituency, that the upgradation work pertaining to Calicut railway station should commence immediately. Keeping in view the heavy rush at

Calicut railways station, West Hill railway station, suburban station of Calicut should be included in the proposed satellite railway terminals. There is a need to develop Ferok station immediately. The train No. 16517 Yashwantpur-Kannur

Express train should be extended to Calicut. Byndoor to Kasargode train which has been extended to Koshikode should be further extended to Guruvayur Temple.

A Memo service between Calicut-Coimbator-Ernakulam should also be introduced.

DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY: Announcement of bullet train is a revolutionary step. Hon. Minister has also taken a revolutionary step by granting

Rs.2300 crore for Allahabad-Mughalsarai third line and Rs.400 crore for

Ghaziabad-Aligarh third line, as a result of which Bihar, Assam and North-Eastern states are likely to be benefitted. The decision to upgrade Mughalsarai station as of international standard is also a welcome step. I am grateful for taking up the doubling of Renukut-Chopan, Ramana-Singrauli, Balia-Gazhipur, Aunihal-Jaunpur along withVaranasi-Sitapur Cantt railway line. Gauge conversion of Faizabad- Lalganj via Akbarganj and Kanpur-Kaisarganj-Mathura railway line have been mentioned in the Budget. I would also like to request the Hon. Minister to take up the construction work of over bridge at Kachhuman and Matkatta. Year 2016 is a centenary year of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay. It is my humble request that to commemorate this occasion Deendayal Upadhyay Express or Ekatmakta train should be introduced between Mughalsarai to Delhi via Lucknow. Moreover, a mechanism should also be put in the place so that poor travelers are not subjected to harassment by GRP, RPF and railway TTEs.

SHRI PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI: I like to draw the attention of the Railway Minister to the only one railway line i.e. Khurda-Bolangir which goes through KBK. The State Government has already allotted the lands but nothing has been done yet on this line. Previous Government had sanctioned flyover from

Satyanagar, Birosurendra Shahid Nagar, Pokhriput, but the work is not completed yet. I demand to start the work immediately on one over bridge on Nirakarpur railway station under ISCO Zone of Khurda division.

Under Khurda road at Jatni junction, there is only one railway school. The hon. Minister may develop this school and start immediately one college for the study of railway employees children. I demand to start one full fledged hospital in

Bhubaneswar at Khurda road, Jatni, Mancheswar. I request the Minister to allocate special fund to promote east-coast zone. There should be more focus on doubling and tripling of rail line to decongest the over utilized network. Alternate resource mobilisation needs to be explored through domestic investments and FDI in rail infrastructure.

There should be provision of foot over bridges, escalators, lifts, etc. at all major stations along with sufficient water supply, platform shelters and toilets.

Besides, battery operated cars for differently abled and senior citizens should be run and parking-cum-platform combo tickets should be introduced. Multi- pronged approach needs to be adopted for eliminating unmanned level crossings.

I request Minister of Railways to expedite the metro work immediately from

Cuttack to Bhubaneswar and Khurda, from Khurda to Jatni, Puri and Konarak to promote eco-tourism. The mono train and metro work should be started immediately to avoid the traffic congestion.

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: This Rail Budget is in the interest of common man as no increase has been made in fares. There is a long pending demand to start two new trains from Latur to Tirupathi and from Latur to Ajmer in my parliamentary constituency Latur. There is also demand to start work on new

Nanded-Latur rail line. There is only one platform at Udgir railway station. So, I would like to urge upon the hon. Railway Minister to construct second platform at

Udgir railway station at the earliest. There is also need to start a new train in

Marathwada region. SHRI AKSHAY YADAV: I would like to request the Government to take cognizance of certain projects which were started long ago but are yet to be completed. Foremost is the Etawah-Mainpuri line. Similarly, Guna-Etawah via

Shivpuri, Gwalior-Bhind rail line project, which will connect Mumbai has not been completed for the last 25 years. Attention should also be paid to Agra-Etawah via

Fatehabad rail line and it should be completed at the earliest. Jansadharan trains should be introduced for the poor people. I would urge upon the Government that there should be at least 6 general bogies in every train. With regard to women safety, I would like to submit that separate coaches should be attached for women and armed women GRP should be deployed therein. It is my humbler request to the Hon. Minister that such posts which have been abolished due to computerization should be adjusted. It is my request to the Government that NOC should be given to the Uttar Pradesh state regarding recruitment of GRP.

Maintaining cleanliness at railway stations and trains could contribute better in

Swachh Bharat mission. There are three major stations namely, Shikohabad,

Firozabad and Tundla in my Parliamentary Constituency . All the three stations are lacking in basic amenities. Tundla station should be made a smart station. It is my request to the Government that Mohammadpur Crossing No. 257 should not be closed. SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE: This budget has been prepared to facilitate all the classes of people. In the last railway budget survey for new railway line from Amravati to Betul had been sanctioned, I request the Government to please include it in this budget. Besides I request to provide stoppages of 12644/12643,

Swarn Jayanti Express and 12804/12803, Patalkot Express at Amla; 12159/12160,

Nagpur-Jabalpur Express at Ghoradongri; 12111/12112, Nagpur-Bhusaval train at

Timarni; 12627/12628, Karnataka Express at and 9045/9048, Tapti Ganga

Express in Khirkiya.

SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL: Indian Railway is life line for the Indians.

It is source of transportation and trade activities that is important for economic upliftment. But even after 67 years of independence, the North East states of India are yet to be connected with railway network properly. As I come from Assam, I can give many examples of such projects that crossed several deadlines for completion. The work of delayed projects such as Bogibeel bridge; Lumding-

Silchar Broad Gauge conversion; Rangiya-Mukongselek Broad Gauge Conversion;

Dhudhnhoi-Mendnipathar new line; Broad gauge railway line from New

Moinaguri to Jogighopa (Abhyapuri)and conversion of broad gauge line from

Silchar to Karimganj may be expedited. I would request to re-open the railway lines that have been closed and non-functional for years and upgrade Dhubri station as model station to develop trade between India and Bangladesh,

Mayanmar, Bhutan etc.

I would like to request hon. Minister to introduce some more new trains for people of North East States from metro cities. Besides, new train between Dhubri to Guwahati including intercity and Janshatabdi Expresses and Jogikhopa to

Mahendraganj via Mancachar should be introduced. Initiative for Railway connectivity between Silchar and Manipur needs to be taken. There is a need for introduction of more new express trains including inter-city chair car train between

Bapeta and Guwahati to connect the district with its capital and development of

Hojai station as model station as well as construction of upper and under bridges at the crossings in Goalpara, Dhubri and Barpeta to avoid accident.

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: Lot of ideas are proposed in the

Budget without any concrete remedy for the solution of the problems. Hon.

Railway Minister has not announced any new railway projects or trains inspite of increasing demand for the same. Enhancement of rail facilities is the need of the hour. But importance was given to various reformative theories which will not help the people in the country. Doubling of Tumkur-Arasikere railway line in

Karnataka which is 96 km in length has been announced. But unfortunately, very meager amount of Rs.22 crores is earmarked for this year 2015-16. Hence, I urge to provide more funds in the future to enable this doubling work, complete as early as possible.

The Railway Minister has also continued the new railway lines proposed between Tumkar-Davangere via Chitradurga and Tumkur-Rayadurga in Karnataka.

The amount earmarked for these new railway lines is also considerably less. The amount given for ROBs and RUBs in my Tumkur Parliamentary constituency falling between Tumkur and Arasikere is also not sufficient.

SHRI ARKA KESHARI DEO: My parliamentary constituency Kalahandi, is located in the western pocket of the State of Odisha which is comparatively lagging behind in railway infrastructure. I request to include the following railway projects of my district in this railway budget : construction of level crossing no.

RV-172 at km.215/2 between Titlagarh-Kesinga; Wagon maintenance workshop at

Narla; extension of railway line from Junagarh to Ampani; extension of railway line from Kantabanji to Khariar road; computerized ticket counter at Junagarh and

Narla road and inclusion of Junagarh and Narla road Railway station as Aadarsh

Railway station.

More funds are required for the expansion of railway infrastructure in the naxal affected area. Passengers safety is the prime importance of the railway. To avoid railway accidents, satellite based technology may be adopted to prevent collision in unmanned railway stations. One semi-high speed train may be introduced in Delhi to Vishakapatnam via Kesinga route. A PPP model may be developed to harness the solar energy by utilizing the roof-top of railway buildings and stations which is more clean and cheap.

Indian Railways has already entered the Billion Club in freight loading. The

12th Plan projection of freight loading in the terminal is around 1405 million tonnes. I am thankful to Railway Minister for not increasing the railway fare.

SHRI KRISHAN PRATAP: I support this Rail Budget. The proper arrangement of generators should be made at Jaunpur city, Jaunpur junction,

Shahganj, Shrikrishan Nagar, Mugra Badshahpur railway stations and 200 metres shed should be provided at the platforms. The additional reservation counters

(ticket window) should be opened in view of increasing number of passengers.

The proper arrangement of parking at railway stations should be made. There is an urgent need to open canteen at railway stations and modernisation and beautification thereof. The 1200 metres road should be constructed from Shahganj railway station to Malgodam. Facility of computerised reservation should be provided at Shrikrishan Nagar railway station. An additional platform should be constructed at Mugra Badshahpur railway station. The flyover should be constructed at railway crossings located in Jagdishpur of Jaunpur city, Jaunpur city station, Naiganj, Shahganj and Mugra Badshahpur city. A halt of train numbers

12237-Varanasi-Jammutavi, 12327 Hawrah-Dehradun, 12369 Hawrah-Haridwar, 13239 Patna-Kota, 12357 Kolkata-Amritsar, 18103 Jagdishpur-Amritsar, 15035

Okha-Gohati, Sadbhavna Express should be provided at Shrikrishan Nagar station.

SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE: This budget will succeed in meeting the aspirations of people of India and provide rail facilities of international standard. No increase has been made in rail fare. Special focus has been on

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The provision of Vacuum Toilets has been made.

Some facilities are: Helpline NO. 138 toll free, Security No. 182 toll free.

Reducing time for getting ticket, quality food and safe drinking water at economy rate, travelling through S.M.S information, time-schedule for arrival & departure of trains. Mobile charging facility, wheelchair facilities for the needy persons, provide Lower berth to the elderly, pregnant women and the handicapped as for as possible. Work for the improvement and development of the railway stations.

Reducing travel time, gauge conversion doubling and tripling of Railway lines, increasing water facilities, focus on security & safety, improvement in the techniques & technology, attracting investors, developing new projects on the basis of PPP model and participation of the states in formulating schemes, using of

C.N.G. to save electricity, saving water, improvement in environment, use of solar energy.

SHRI P.C. MOHAN: I will speak only on two issues, that is about urban trains and upgradation of railway stations in Bengaluru city. I request the Minister of Railways to consider the long-pending Bengaluru suburban rail project. The implementation of suburban rail project will be a big boon to the city and the nearby areas such as Chikballapur, Tumkur, Doddaballapur, Hosur, Bangarapet, etc will be connected through the rail network. A lot of facilities are to be given for Bengaluru City Railway Station and Yashwantpur Railway Station. So, I would request the hon. Minister to take up the total renovation of the stations and upgrade the stations to the international standards. If the Byrappanahalli station is made a full-fledged station, most of the people who come from Maheshpuri and

CV Raman Market can board at Byrappanahalli only. I would like to thank the hon. Hon. Railway Minister for giving Rs.1 crore from MPLADS for building the railway station in Whitefield. RoB and RuB which are pending in Bengaluru and around its areas should be completed.

DR. TAPAS MANDAL: West Bengal is not in the priority area of the NDA

Government. There is no specific Budget allocation for certain projects in West

Bengal. A project of Rs.100 in West Bengal, the allocation is very limited. Then, there is no mention of metro railway projects in the Annexure of the Railway

Budget 2015. So, Kolkata to Kalyani metro via Barackpore proposed route should be materialized. Frequency of local trains needs to be increased at least during peak office hours in Sealdah and Howrah section. The number of compartments of local trains needs to be increased from nine to 12. I also want to draw your kind attention to clean the suburban railway stations, the toilets, the bathrooms. My constituency, Ranagjat is divided by the railway stations and railway lines. An

Under Pass needs to be constructed in this area. There is need to look into the problem of rehabilitation of poor people living alongside railway lines.

SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA: The Minister of Railway has prepared this budget by keeping in view the entire country. Our 65 years old demand has been met. A new railway line from Nashirabad via Tonk to

Swaimadhopur has been sanctioned for which rupees 873 crore has been provided for. If ladies are recruited in security forces it will be helpful to lady passengers and provide more employment to women folk. In my Constituency Tonk almost

12000 girl students from all over the country come to Vanasthali Vidyapith for study but there are no facilities at the small railway station there. I request the

Minister of Railway to improve the said station and including a waiting hall, food court all passenger amenities should be made available there. Doubling of railway line from Swaimadhopur to Jaipur should be completed early. In Gangapur City station 1500 staff quarters are constructed on 200 acre of railway land which are in depleted condition and being encroached upon. I request the Minister to set up a rail workshop there so that the youth of that area could get employment therein and the railway property could be saved. There is a rail overbridge at Swaimadhopur which is damaged to good extent. I request that overbridge should be reconstructed for the convenience of people. An underbridge should also be constructed at the railway station.

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: Indian Railway is the lifeline, backbone of development and a better and easy mode of commutation. The hon.

Minister of Railway deserves congratulations for not hiking passenger fares. The increase made in freight charges during the recent past will lead to price hike of daily use items. No special relaxation has been given to students. It should be considered. The number of trains has not been increased in proportion to increasing population. Care has not been taken for the facility of the people travelling in general class and sleeper class. Anti-collision devices should be fitted in the trains. Fair compensation to the families of the five people killed in a rail accident occurred on 21st February 2015 at Navi Nagar railway crossing.

Attention should be paid towards Harnaut coach factory. Bakhtiyarpur to Rajgir railway line should be doubled. An overbridge should be constructed near

Biharsharif railway station. Arrangements of lighting, handpumps passenger sheds and drinking water should be made at all the halts from Fatuha to Islampur. One more pair of train should be made available for the train between Patna and

Islampur for the facility of the passengers commuting between these stations.

Magadh Express plies from New Delhi to Islampur but it returns from Patna instead of Islampur during winter. It should run upto Islampur during winter also. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE: I support the budget. My constituency, Garhchiroli, Chumur is one of the most backward, tribal dominated and naxal affected area where there are no industries. This area is rich in resources.

We can create employment opportunities for lakhs of educated unemployed youths of the area who are joining naxal movement and bring them back to the mainstream but industries cannot be set up there due to lack of railway connectivity. I request to allocate funds for Wadsa-Garhchiorli line which had already been approved. My constituency which falls in Chandrapur district is a naxal affected area. It is a longstanding demand of people of the area to convert

Nagbheed-Nagpur railway line into broad-gauge. I request you to make allocations for this line in the supplementary budget. The height of platforms at Wadsa

Brahmpuri and Naagbheed railway stations in my constituency need to be raised and Darbhanga Express should be given stoppage at Aamgaon, Wadsa and

Brahmpuri railway stations in my constituency.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: I can say, Railway Minister, Suresh

Prabhu's maiden budget is not a typical politician's budget. It shows the deft touches of a professional. How he is going to find resources, financial and technical, to achieve targets is yet to be spelt out. This is where the Railways needs to think out of the box. Railway Minister's ambitious agenda comes through in his plan for the coming fiscal. But execution will be the key. The hike in freight rates is one of the negative aspects of this budget. I would insist that Odisha needs adequate funding to expand its rail network. Government of Odisha has communicated to Ministry of Railways for extending financial contribution for construction and land acquisition for Khurda Road-Bolangir Project, -

Nabarangpur Project, Jeypore-Malkangiri Project. It was proposed to have a

Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the entire State for all future works. I would urge upon the Minister to take up these projects on urgent basis.

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: The Budget presented by

Hon'ble Railway Minister has been termed as uninspiring. TCAS proposals which were an integral part of the Safety scenario have not shown any progress. Added to this is the introduction of the ACD (Anti Collision Device) which suffers from some inherent defects . Regarding other measures for Safety and Security, nothing has seen done except a few automatic level crossings and construction of ROBs and RUBs. This budget, thus, shown inadequate concern for passenger's safety and security. An instance worth pointing out is the fact that Railways intends to install

CCTV cameras, which is a welcome step, but unless we have manned trains, this will have no impact. This aspect does not figure in the Railway Minister's speech.

Another major point which should not be lost sight off is the Operating ratio which the Hon'ble Railway Minister has promised to bring down to the lowest in decades.

This is no major achievement for the Government since the same has been aided by attractive fuel prices prevailing in the global market. The intent of the Railway to opt for electrification has been somewhat lackadaisical. A long pending railway bridge, i.e. Nasirpur-Azimganj, in my Parliamentary Constituency which remains incomplete, although I had made sufficient efforts to resolve the pending issues.

Opening up this railway bridge for traffic would result in an additional route for connecting border districts of India alongwith the Bangladesh border. Employment generation, training is good for work culture but if a ministry has no vision for future prospects or it may have only baseless pile of ideas then how it will eliminate poverty from the core? The Budget suffers from basic defect like

Catering Policy, Bed Linen Policy which are close to the passengers heart and for which there is no clarity. Budget speech is devoid of basic intent to serve the public. Providing help of the self help groups is good for motivation but no existing Railway Industries got prominence in the Budget. The current Rail Budget is all about future but it's finance presently suffers from almost 40 per cent shortfall. How far the gap is going to be met is the million dollar question. Only

Ahmedabad and Mumbai get prominence in this Rail Budget and no other city is being considered for the connectivity. Jangal Mahal (In West Bengal) would not get the benefit of National Importance as the most remote zone in India, especially when it is the marked RED CORRIDOR ZONE declared by the Central

Government. SHRI BHARAT SINGH: This is for the first time after independence that going through the budget presented, nobody can say as to from which State the

Minister of Railways hails. The Minister of Railway has presented a holistic budget by taking necessary measures for strengthening the entire structure and keeping in view safe and comfortable journey to the passengers. Uttar Pradesh is the most neglected and backward State I represent Purvanchal region. There is no good train to come to Delhi from Baliya. Guwahati Rajdhani Express passes through Baliya but this train runs on alternative day. It should be made a daily train. People of Baliya live in every part of the country and for the facility of those people train should be operated to Baliya from Kolkata, Mumbai, , Ludhiana and Ahmedabad. There is lack of passenger amenities at Swarnapur, Tajpur,

Dehma, Karanadihipur and Rewati railway stations. Overbridges and pedestrian ways should be provided at these places. Pawan Express should be halt at Rewati and Bakula stations. There are 4 or 5 trains which remains stationary for 20 hours at Banaras railway station. I request that those trains should be extended upto

Baliya station. The train which departs from Guwahati railway station should be made a daily train for the convenience of the people of Baliya. One train to Baliya should also be started from Faridabad. A superfast express train should ply between Baliya and Delhi. DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA: The Railway Minister has not mentioned about the Jiribam-Imphal (97.9 Km) National Railway project of Manipur.

Manipur is categorized as Special Category States, but no train here has ever run.

Government sanctioned the Jiribam-Tupul (Imphal) Railways National Project.

The foundation stone of which was laid at Jirighat in 2004 initially targeted to be completed by 2010 has been delayed and targeted to be completed by 2019. The reason for this delay is attributed to the adverse law and order situation. The matter has not been taken up with the concerned authorities for providing necessary security coverage for these projects. The proposal for creation of North-East

Region Rail Development Fund for ensuring necessary funds for timely completion of National projects in the region has not yet been initiated. The Diesel

Locomotive Centre at Imphal is yet to see the light of the day. The North East region is a mini India. This being the actual position, the initiatives towards achieving the inclusive growth should be taken.

SHRI B. N. CHANDRAPPA: The Railway Budget for 2015-16 has proposed a Plan outlay of Rs. 1,00,011 crore. It is over one and a half times the outlay of Rs. 65,798 crore in the revised estimates for the year 2014-15. I would like to request the hon'ble Railway Minister to increase the allocation for the railway project of my Lok Sabha constituency - Haradurga Road-Chikjajur

Junction Railway doubling project. The details estimate for doubling Hosadurga Road-Chikjajur section of 29.65 km. was sanctioned in July 2013. The cost was pegged at Rs. 203.40 crore. The doubling work is expected to be completed in two-and-a half years. I would also request the Railway Minister to take steps to construct new station buildings at Hosadurga, Chikjajur, Ramgiri and Halalkere stations where all basic amenities should be made available to passengers.

Tumkuru-Davanagere railway line was announced in the 2011-12 Railway Budget and sanctioned by the Railway Board in October 2013. The cost of the project is

Rs. 1,837 crore. The Railway's share is Rs. 856 crore and the State government's share is Rs. 980 crore including the land acquisition cost of Rs. 124 crore. I would like to request the hon. Railway Minister to issue necessary directions to authority concerned to expedite the work on this railway line. The hon. Railway Minister indicated that he would like to engage states as partners in projects. But, there is no clarity on how he wants to go about it. I would like to suggest that the railways can only depend on states for one or two small projects. It is not possible for state to contribute for major railway projects. The hon. Railway Minister mentioned in the budget for setting up of waste to energy conversion plants near major coaching terminals. It would be a good step to dispose the waste in an environment friendly manner. He also mentioned setting up of a pilot plant, however, there is no mention of details of the place where the pilot plant would be come up and how much funds are entitled for the said purpose. There are reports that Railway unions are opposing FDI in Railways. I would like to say that the Indian Railways is a symbol of national integration. Whatever steps taken by the government should help

Railways to improve its business and uphold the national integration. I also welcome the announcement of a special initiative for disabled persons and the steps to increase the number of coaches from the existing 24 to 26 coaches in the trains.

SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA: This is for the first time that no new trains have been announced in the Rail budget and only improvement of railway infrastructure has been envisaged. Our rail network is the largest rail network of the world but its condition is worse. The Hisar railway station is 115 years old and the staff quarters there are in very bad shape. Drinking water and toilet facility is not available at said railway station. Safety at this railway station is a big issue and this railway station should be made safe completely. The Department of Railway does not provide the facility of insurance on rail tickets. On long distance routes the benefit of insurance can be given to the passengers by charging one rupee more on per ticket. All the unmanned railway crossings should be converted into automatic crossings in order to check accidents. The ticketing period has been increased to 120 days from 60 days but leave of service personnel are sanctioned only 15 days in advance as such how they will be able to get reservation.

Kurukeshtra is a historic as well as religious place and efforts should be made to include it in the 9 routes which has been chalked out. Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Sirsa and half of Hisar district comes under Bikaner division they should be included in our division.

DR. YASHWANT SINGH: Railway plays a vital role in our economy and traffic system of the country. The reforms for reducing the difficulties of a common man have been given priority in this budget. Cleanliness, construction of toilets and provision of potable water at stations have been mentioned. Hon'ble

Minister has mentioned in his budget speech regarding deployment of women police for the safety of women. There has been mention regarding developing multilingual E-ticketing portal and providing facility for ticket booking through smart phone. Improvement in existing rail lines and operation of trains without any accident is more important than increasing the number of trains. In my Lok

Sabha constituency, a railway bridge is yet to be constructed on national highway at Nagina town, because of that people have been facing many problems related to the traffic. This railway bridge should be given approval on priority. In view of the public demand train No. 15011 and 15012 Sadbhavna Express should be provided stoppage at Basi Kiratpur and Tilhar railway station, train No. 12231 UP and

12232 DOWN Chandigarh Express should be provided stoppage at Sheohara station and Amarnath and Himgiri Express should be provided stoppage at

Najibabad station. SHRI VINOD KHANNA: Railway budget has the potential to be transformational-by increasing capacity and improving technology on the supply side, improving quality of services on the demand side, and focusing on transparency and efficiency on the operational side. The challenge is to immediately fill the financial gap by attracting investors. The rail budget envisages an investment plan of Rs. 8.5 trillion over the next five year. It would boost the government's ambitious Make in India programme. The budget aims to channelize the PPP participation for improving its freight business and will focus on the construction of feeder routes to the dedicated freight corridors and also set up a

Transport Logistics Corporation of India to develop user facilities and provide end- to-end logistics solutions. I would like bring the kind attention of our hon'ble railway minister to few issues like construction of entry point to Pathankot Cantt. railway station from Jammu Jalandhar Highway side. Second, on Sujanpur-

Pathankot railway line, there is a level of crossing through which 55 to 60 trains run up and down from Jammu-Pathankot-Delhi daily, A construction of road bridge on this level crossing is required. Third, there is an urgent need for the construction of new railway line between Qadian and Beas to provide direct rail connectivity to Batala town. Fourth, a railway over bridge was constructed on

Batala-Dera Baba Nanak road railway crossing a few years back. The under bridge railway crossing was closed permanently. The under bridge railway crossing should be made functional for public convenience. Fifth and most important issue of narrow-Gauge problem in Pathankot city needs immediate redressal so as to avoid traffic snarls and choke movement of normal traffic. Sixth, also there is a huge demand for doubling the tracks and increase in trains between Pathankot and

Amritsar.

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: The Minister of railway through this budget not only strived to improve the financial health of railway but also made meaningful efforts to augment the capacity of railway, security increase the moral of railwaymen and overcome the deficiency of investment in railway. The minister of railway has accorded top priority for sanitation in railway increasing the speed of trains and safety and security of the passengers. There is no need to say that the rail service is the biggest base of our economic structure. If the country is to be put on the path of progress the railway system will have to be streamlined. The Minister of Railway has presented an extremely practical and visionary rail budget by avoiding the populist measures. He has shown the courage by not announcing any new train. It has been our experience that the most of the announcement remains only on the papers and the train announced are never introduced. Ticket reservation period has been increased from 60 days to 120 days.

There is an overall increase of 52 percent in this rail budget and increase 67 percent for passenger amenities has been made. A number of trains passes through my Parliamentary Constituency Sonipath which attracts huge crowd therefore 20 coaches should be attached in those trains in place of 16 coaches which will ease the problem to a good extent. The quality of food in trains will definitely improve by having constant monitoring of it. In this rail budget efforts has been made to bring about good improvement in railway and providing more and more facilities to the passengers. Stoppage should be provided to Kalaka Shadbadi at Sonipath and Sonipath-Wahana-Jind rail line should be completed at the earliest. Stoppage to Shan-e-Punjab, Sachkhand Express and Uttar Sampark Kranti at Sonipath.

DR. BHARTIBEN D. SHYAL: This Railway Budget has presented real picture of the Indian railways. The Minister of Railways has not announced even a single new train. The trains announced in the previous budgets have not been introduced. The projects announced in the previous budgets have not been completed. The Minister of Railways has talk about enhancing the speed of trains.

C. C. T.V would be installed in the women coaches. Gauge conversion of 'Botad-

Ahmedabad' is a long pending demand. Provision of Rs. 120 crore for the same has been made in this budget. Representations have been submitted to the hon.

Minister, the Railway Board and G.M., Western Railway for extension of trains, providing stoppage to some trains, construction of ROB and RUB and also for introduction of new trains. It is requested that all the above demands should be met at the earliest. SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA: The Lok Sabha Constituency which I represent is the headquarters of north central railway and Allahabad division as well. The largest Mela of the world i.e. Kumbh Mela is organized in

Allahabad in which lakhs of devotees throng. There is no good facility at

Allahabad. I request that the rail facilities should be improve there. After the independence there has been accidents during the Mela organized in Allahabad and in inquiry railway was found responsible for the accidents. Therefore railway should pay special attention at Allahabad. The rail lines from Allahabad to

Faizabad and Banaras to Chitrakoot should be doubled. I request the Minister for an over bridge near Prayag junction. Allahabad junction is a major railway station.

Prayag, Fafamau, Rambagh, Naini, Subedarganj, Bambrauli are associated with

Kumbh Mela. As long as these stations are not developed and mismanagement in

Kumbh Mela is not checked, accidents taking place due to such mismanagement in this Kumb Mela will continue. Rail Coach Factory should be established in

Allahabad. Kaushambi became a new district in 1997 and no station has been announced for that district headquarter. Shirathu be declared a district headquarter station and all trains be given stoppage there. The present Duranto train for New

Delhi and Mumbai from Allahabad should run daily.

SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN: In matters of railways, we continue to be neglected. We need a change of mindset at least now. The city of Mumbai is a mega city where lakhs of Keralites live. Perhaps, the people of Kerala constitute the largest chunk of railway travellers. Perhaps the people of Kerala constitute the largest chunk of railway travellers. There are limited trains from Bengaluru to

Kerala. Guruvayoor, is a temple city, that comes under my constituency.

Guruvayoor has a small railway station. A small gate in front of the temple closes twenty four times during a day. Fourteen times engines are shunted here due to this the railway gate at the level crossing is closed. I urge the Central Government to construct an over bridge there for the people of Guruvayoor and the pilgrims who visit this place. The difficulties faced by the natives of Guruvayoor and the pilgrims who visit the place and the difficulties caused due to the frequent closing of the railway gate at the level crossing near the Guruvayoor temple may be taken into consideration. Kindly install the escalator at Trichur Railway Station to fulfil our long standing demand.

SHRI MEKAPATI RAJA MOHAN REDDY: Issues relating to number of rail accidents, cleanliness in the railways, weeding out old coaches, constructing rail over bridges to decongest traffic, abolishing unmanned level crossings, crimes in running trains, provision of safe drinking water and hygienic food for passengers, besides technical upgradation, modernization to make Indian Railways as a world class Railway may be taken into account. Nadikudi-Srikalahasti project may be completed. Socially and economically desirable Nadikudi-Srikalahasti line encompassing four districts i.e. Guntur, Prakasam, and Chittoor measuring

309 kms may be implemented. The Railway Minstry should get all the formalities completed from the successor state of Andhra Pradesh and start work on this project without any further delay. Kalahasti-Nadikudi is probably one of the most important projects which can be a major change agent for much of southern

Andhra Pradesh. The Central Government should take measures to establish rapid rail and road connectivity from the new Capital of the successor state of Andhra

Pradesh to Hyderabad and other important cities of Telengana. The following new trains may be introduced for the benefit of commuters. A.P. Express from New

Delhi to Tirupati via Vijayawada, another A.P. Express from New Delhi to

Visakhapatnam , Tirupati to Shirdi Via Nellore, Vijayawada, evening Train from

Vijayawada to Bangalore and vice versa and Tirupati to Ajmer via Nellore,

Vijayawada ,

The demand of the passengers for stoppage at of the following Trains should be considered- Train No. 12841/12842 Coromandal

Express, Train No. 12621/12622 , Train No.12611/12612

Nizamudin Garib Rath, Train No. 17229/17230 Sabari Express, Train No.

12863/12864 Yaswanthpur -Howrah Express and train No. 17209/17210 Seshadri

Express . The Railway Ministry may expedite the process of declaration of a zone with Headquarters at Visakhapatnam. It may be considered to establish a coach/wagon manufacturing factory at Bitragunta. Trains should run in time, safe travel especially for women, Railway Stations and trains should be hygienic and availability of clean drinking water may be considered.

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH: I have never seen such a fine rail Budget. The most impressive aspect of the Budget is that passenger fares have not been increased and huge allocation has been made for safety. A provision has been made to reserve the lower berth for the pregnant and old people. It is commendable step. Mobile charging facility has been provided in the trains. In the last rail Budget, there was a proposal for a new rail line from Etah to Aligarh but so far nothing has materialized. Train Nos. 15040 and 15041 should have a stoppage at Ballupur station, Kasganj.

SHRI C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: Mettupalayam should be connected with

Chennai via Sathyamangalam, Gopichettipalayam, Cithod, Erode to fulfill the genuine demand of the people of the Western Tamil Nadu. Mettuppalayam is a well known tourists centre, the most popular destination of Indian Cinema

Industry. But it does not have rail connectivity to Erode Via Satyamangalam,

Gopichetipalayam and Cathode. More coaches (upto 24 coaches) may be added in

Chennai-Nilgiri Express and extend Cheran Express up to Mettupalayam so as to get benefit to Industrial Business, National and International Tourists and common people. The undergoing work of laying a new rail line from Chamrajnagar to

Erode is progressing slowly. It should be expedited. The local people as well as tourists will be benefitted by this rail line.

SHRI CHHEDI PASWAN: The present of Indian Railways is full of challenges but its future is bright. The Government has decided to bring a turnaround in Railways in next five years. Despite financial crisis, the

Government has not increased rail fare. The stoppage of at least two Rajdhani trains should be provided at Junction, a world level tourists centre and famous cultural and commercial city. The stoppage of weekly train, Juva Express, may be provided at Sasaram Junction. Funds may be provided for Rohtas-Kaimur rail line project and should be completed soon. Due to closure of many factories my constituency has no industry and employment at present. Laying new rail line from Pahleja to will help again in social and economic development of this area. Poorva Express should be provided stoppage at Sasaram Junction.

SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH: I appreciate that the Hon. Minister, under the able leadership of our Prime Minister, has tried to cover in his Railway

Budget all sections of the society. This Rail Budget is a pro-people Budget. The

Rail way Minister has not increased the passenger fares but has concentrated on service and quality improvement of railways and completion of long pending projects. Bogibeel Bridge was supposed to be completed in 2009. There is no guarantee as to by when this rail-cum-road bridge will get completed. I am also grateful to the hon. Railway Minister for allocating an extra amount of Rs.39,000 crore for a period from 2015 to 2019 to the States of North East region and Jammu and Kashmir. Assam and the North East have been the most neglected areas during the last 70 years. The people of Assam certainly deserve a coach building factory in Guwahati. The need of the hour is also to totally detach NF Railway from Bihar and Bengal. Rangapara Station should be declared as model station, and the Intercity Express should connect Tezpur with Guwahati. Rajdhani Express should run from Naharlagun to Delhi, at least, twice in a week. Metro Rail should be taken up from Azra in Kamrup to Jagi Road in Morigaon District. I would also request the hon. Railway Minister to put extra emphasis on Assam by adding a few more rail tracks and bridges.

SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: This Budget has been far from politics and is aimed at development of railway for the entire nation, keeping in view the motto of Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat. In my constituency there is a pending issue of

Nadia-Udaipur rail line since 1978. Conversion of Metre Gauge into Broad Gauge and regular train service may be ensured to meet the long pending demands of people of my constituency Kheda. SHRI P. R.SENTHILNATHAN: Silambu Express (16181/16182) may be operated as a daily train instead of operating it as a biweekly train. A road-over- bridge or a subway must be constructed at Pudhuvayal junction in Karaikudi-

Pudhuvayal road and Ariyakudi Railway gate near Karaikudi Railway Station.

Pallavan Express terminating at Karaikudi be extended upto Manamadurai.

Rameswaram-Coimbatore Express (16617/16618) train may be operated daily.

Work on the Karaikudi-Pattukottai-Thiruvarur section of the rail line should be geared up to ensure speedy completion. Till such time Kamban express may be made operational to avoid the inconvenience faced by the public. Pondicherry-

Kanyakumari Express(16861), the weekly train may be operated as a daily train.

On Trichy-Rameshwaram Dual Railway track, Karaikudi-Mudurai new rail track,

Karaikudi-Kanniyakumari via (Devakottai- Thiruvadanai-Ramnad) Pudhukottai-

Thondi via (Aalangudi- Aranthangi) and Karakudi-Kovai via (Thirupathur -

Singampunari- Kottampattai -Dhindugal-Palani), new railway line is required.

Proper lighting , power backup and drinking water facility needs to be provided at

Devakottai Railway station. The 3rd and 4th platform at Karaikudi Railway Station

(KKDI) must be provided with roof and equipped with adequate lightings and escalator facility. Manamadurai Railway Junction and Pudhukottai railway station must provided with escalator. Working time for Reservation Counter there must be extended from 8.00AM to 8.00PM. Rameshwaram-Bhuvaneshwar Express (18495/18496) and Rameshwaram -Varanasi Express (14259/14260) must have stoppages in Sivagangai, Devakottai and Pudhukottai Stations. Daily express trains may be introduced between Rameswaram to Mysore via Trichy, Erode and

Bangalore and Rameswaram and Tirupati via Karaikudai, Trichy and

Thiruvannamalai. The frequency of Puduchery-Kanyakumari Express and

Coimbatore-Rameswaram Express Train may be increased to make them daily trains. Stoppage for all trains should also be provided at Thirumayam.

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR: Hon. Minister of Railways has paid special attention to security and facility in Rail Budget and has worked out a plan for its expansion. He has tried to utilise technical facility development also in the railway system. Special attention has been paid towards poor, weaker and helpless sections of people in the Rail Budget. This rail budget is a visionary budget. In this budget target has been fixed for introducing bullet trains, to enhance speed of trains and to further spread the railway network. This is a progressive budget.

Stoppage of Ala Hazrat Express, Rajrani Express, Guwahati Express and

Sadbhawana Express be provided at Gajraula station in my Parliamentary constituency Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. A shuttle train must be run from Amroha to

Delhi for daily passengers and a new train may be introduced between Amroha and

Haridwar. Rail route is proposed from Amroha to Hasanpur also. The same must also be completed at the earliest. There are no proper facilities like toilets and sitting area for passengers at Kuchesar road railway station. Basic passenger amenities should provided at this station.

SHRI R. RADHAKRISHNAN: The Minister of railways has not given in to any populist demand. He has taken a lot of care into the cleanliness, sanitation, food, reservation of tickets and so on. The Minister of Railways has promised an investment of Rs.8.5 lakh crore in the next five years into the Railways.

Definitely, this will bring about a big thrust in the employment and in the economic development of the country. The Minister has not made any increase in the fare of the railway users. I think now the Ministry has decided that

Government should provide adequate service for what the people are paying to the

Railways. The Railway Minister has given more importance to improving the services of the Railways. I would request the Hon. Minister on behalf of the all the

UTs to exempt them from the State's share because the entire length of Railway network covering the Union Territories would be less than 200 km. He has kept the impressive target by increasing the operating ratio to 12.5 per cent.

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: This is the first Budget which has been framed for the entire country. This Budget has emphasized Swachh Bharat,

Make-in-India, Digital India, Skill Development, environment and protection, promoting solar energy and extension of railways. In 2014-15 only 462 km lines were sanctioned whereas in 2015-16 length of sanctioned lines is 6608 km - which is 1330 per cent more. The Minister on one hand has paid attention to the extension of railways and on the other he has also emphasized modernization of railways. E-ticketing and Operation Five Minute are laudable. Stoppage should be provided to Rewanchal at Bharvari and Siyathu stations. Ganga Gomti Express should have a stoppage at Lal Gopalganj and Maanikpur. At least two stations in my Constituency should be upgraded to district level.

SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU: This Budget is likely to increase inflation.

It is a mere speech. I have never seen such a directionless Budget. The Budget has increased freight rate by 2 per cent whereas in the 2013-14 Budget it was mentioned that if price of diesel falls then passenger fares and freight rates would be decreased. Globally, the price of diesel is falling in spite of which freight rates have been increased. It has happened for the first time that no new trains have been announced. No time frame has been fixed for starting bullet trains. The improvement in catering in the trains announced by the Minister would cater to the upper middle class only. No cheaper and better alternative has been provided for the common man. Over bridge is urgently needed at sub-stations Maroda on

Bhilai-Dallirajdra rail line. A new train Durg-Indore Express be introduced via

Bilaspur-Katni-Guna. A new train should also be introduced- Trivendrum Express from Bilaspur via Durg-Nagpur-Kalyan-Madgaon. Korba-Nagpur Shatabdi

Express be introduced. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY: Bullet train project should be started at the earliest and freight corridor project should also be expedited. This will provide more and more employment to the people. The Railway Minister by sanctioning

Rs.11500 crore of MUTP has done justice to Mumbai. In Mumbai 3500 passengers die in local trains and similar numbers are injured due to lack of doors.

Hence there is long pending demand for door closures. Those having one or two railway stalls their licences have not been renewed. The Minister has recognized the need of elevated corridor in Mumbai which is a welcome step. All railway stations in Mumbai need to be given a new look at the earliest.

SHRIMATI M. VASANTHI: Rajapalayam is a big industrial city and

Chatrapati-Rajapalayam PACR railway level crossing often gets congested due to heavy traffic. Necessary funds may kindly be allocated for construction of ROB at

Rajapalayam-Chatrapati Railway Gate No.449 km 591/900-59200. Height of

Rajapalayam Railway platform is very low. The Platform height may be increased by 2 feet. Senkottai-Punlaur broad-gauge work is being carried out at a very slow pace. Steps must be taken to complete the work expeditiously. Senkottai,

Sivakasi, Virudhunagar and Rajapalayam are thickly populated industrial areas and only one train "Pothigai Express" is in operation in that area. An additional train

Senkottai-Chennai express may please be introduced here. There is only one entry gate at Rajapalayam Railway Station. Two separate ways for "Way in" and "Way out" must be constructed. Moreover, Rajapalayam Railway station is very often under darkness. Therefore, a generator may please be installed there as early as possible. It is a long pending issue and expectations of South Indians that Delhi-

Madurai Express must be extended upto Senkottai and Mumbai-Madurai Weekly

Express upto Senkottai.

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: This is a realistic Budget. A new rail line was announced in Jodhpur district from Bilara to Bar. This line will reduce the distance of Jodhpur-Jaipur-Delhi and Ajmer will get better connectivity with Jodhpur. An underpass is proposed at Bagadi Nagar station in Pali. A survey should be conducted again and over bridge should be constructed instead. Three trains from

Jodhpur to Delhi namely Jodhpur-Delhi Express should be extended upto

Haridwar. Ajmer-Ahmadabad Intercity Express, Aala Hazrat Express (Bareily -

Bhuj), Delhi S R Express (Delhi-Porbandar) and Gharib-Nawaz Express (Ajmer-

Bangluru Weekly) should be given stoppage at Sojat Road Station. Frequency of

Bilara to Jodhpur passenger train should be increased. There is a need to increase the number of firmly fixed waiting chairs/benches (including overhead sheds) for the passengers at different railway stations in my constituency. A new train to

Ajmer Ex Tiruchi via Diva-Vasai-ADI-ABU-MJ is very much needed. A stoppage for Train no. 16125/26 at Rani Jawai Bandh (WR) may also be granted. Frequency of Train No. 26125 to 3 days a week is requested. In Jodhpur, it would be better to acquire the stadium ground for constructing the building of announcing Medical

College.

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA: More budget should be provided for early completion of gauge conversion of Udaipur-Ahmedabad ( Gujarat) via Himmat

Nagar Rail line. The number of first class AC Coaches and third class AC

Coaches should be increased in Hazrat Nizamuddin express which runs from

Udaipur to New Delhi and the train should be extended upto Haridwar Station.

Puja express should run bi-weekly via Ajmer from Udaipur to provide connectivity to Vaishno Devi. A new train from Udaipur to Nagpur via Chittorgarh required to be started and the train running upto Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) should be extended upto Udaipur. Sufficient fund should be provided by the Union Government for early completion of Dungarpur-Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) via Banswara New Rail line.

ADV. JOICE GEORGE : My constituency is not connected with rail, more than 8,500 families of my constituency are being affected by the delay in implementing a project. It was our ambitious project to have rail connectivity between Angamaly and Sabrimala. This project was announced in the year 1997-

98 and land acquisition proceedings were started in 1999. Due to that preliminary notification, the rights of the people over the land have been freezed for ever. They are not in a position to exercise their rights over the property. I, therefore, urge upon the Government to have a consensus on the issue and complete the project as early as possible in a time-bound manner. We had five railway reservation centres in my constituency. All these centres have been closed down. I would urge upon the Government to re-open all these centres.

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: Perhaps it is for the first time that no new train has been introduced in the Railway Budget. The entire focus is on strengthening Railway network, improving economic condition and giving protection and amenities to ordinary passengers. Being industrial capitalist of

Jharkhand, Jamshedpur is often known as mini India. Therefore, in broader public interest, I demand that a superfast train should be introduced from Tata Nagar to

Jaipur. The Purushottam Express train should be extended upto Jaipur. I also demand that new direct trains from Tata Nagar to Buxar, Tata Nagar to Katihar and also a Tata Nagar-Patna Inter-city should be introduced. A direct Tata Nagar-

Bhagalpur train should be introduced. The Duranto Express fetches water and food from Tata Nagar. It should be extended upto Jamshedpur. The Shirdi Sai

Express should be run twice a week. A new railway line should be laid between

Budhamara of Chakulia block under eastern Singhbhum district to Bangipressi

(Orissa) via Bahargoda. An overbridge should be constructed between Bada

Govindpur to Chhota Govindpur. SHRIMATI MALA RAJYALAKSHMI SHAH : There are only 4

Dehradun primarily based trains. I would like to suggest that new trains primarily

Dehradun based should be introduced. Haridwar Dehradun Railway line should be doubled. Mussoorie Express, Hemkund Express, Chennai Express, Howrah trains should be Dehradun based trains. Dehradun station should not be removed from

Dehradun City. Harrawal Railway station should be developed as Parking and

Washing line of the trains. There should be a circular train required to connect four states (, Himachal, & U.P.) There should be a direct

Shatabdi train running between Delhi-Dehradun. Metro train between Dehradun-

Vikasnagar should be introduced.

SHRI S. SELVANKUMARA CHINNAIYAN: Laying of new railway line between Palani and Erode is pending for a long time. Even the survey work has been completed. It is commercially viable because the movement of textile goods from Chennaimalai to north Indian towns can earn more revenue for the railways. Railway Minister has announced that an additional 200 stations would be taken up for upgradation under Adarsh Railway Station Scheme. I urge upon the

Railway Minister to include Erode which is an important station linking Tamil

Nadu with neighbouring States and also the northern State. Kodumudi is an important pilgrim centre and this town must be given a stoppage for all the trains including Jan Shatabdi train running between Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai. SHRI LALLU SINGH : In my constituency Faizabad, Ayodhya is an important and world famous religious place. So, crores of devotees visit here every year. For the convenience of devotees, I demand that the Barabanki-Jafrabad rail line should be doubled. A new express train should be introduced between

Ayodhya, Faizabad to Rameshwaram. A direct train should be introduced between

Ayodhya and Sitamarhi (Bihar). A new train should be run between Ayodhya

Faizabad and Chitrakut. The Malethu Kanak and Ramghat halts should be upgraded to stations.

SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI: For the first time after independence a rail budget has been presented with the slogan of 'sabka saath- sabka vikas' given by hon'ble Prime Minister. I support the Rail Budget. I hail from Khalilabad and demand that a rail line from Khalilabad to Balrampur via Mahdaval, Nandaur,

Badhni, Shravasti which should be laid at the earliest. Buddha's maternal home is also situated here and it may be connected to Buddha Corridor by laying a Rail line. A 'Yatri Niwas' may be constructed at Maghar.

SHRI KAMAL BHAN SINGH MARABI: I support this Rail Budget and congratulate Hon'ble Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. Sarguja constituency of Chhattisgarh is a very backward and tribal dominated area. Several

Coal mines are situated here. The people of this area are not being benefitted from rail service. In the public interest, I demand that a train may be started from Ambikapur to New Delhi. Earlier a train by the name of Larang Sai used to ply which has been discontinued, it may be operationalised again. Ambikapur-Jabalpur train may be regularised and run on daily basis.

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO: The Rail Budget presented by the

Government would prove to be a milestone in making India a capable and strong nation. Hon'ble Minister of Railways have laid a roadmap to counter the challenges faced by Railways for years. I welcome the proposal to develop 180 kilometre stretch from Shoopdevpur-Ghardhoda-Dharamjaigarh to my constituency Korba under Eastern corridor. People from several states resides in my constituency

Korba, therefore Korba can be called a 'Mini-India'. 10,000MW electricity is produced in Korba. Korba abounds in Coal reserves. Korba is the third most populated town in Chhattisgarh after Raipur and Bilaspur . As far as rail connectivity is concerned this area has always been ignored. Korba-Raipur

Intercity express service must be started again. I propose that this train service may be rechristened as Hansden Express. An express train may be started from Korba to New Delhi. Stoppage must be provided at Nagpur for all trains and arrangements for drinking water and shed may be constructed. A train from

Loharda to Korba may be introduced at the earliest.

SHRI VIRENDER KASHYAP: I welcome the Budget. For the first time, in this Budget sincere efforts are made to bring railway on the right track. Although passengers fare has not been increased, yet many facilities have been provided. There is 2600 per cent increased in the Budget for ROBs/ RUBs which will certainly put check on the accidents happen on railway crossing. The number of general coaches is being increased and also these are being comfortable. I demand that the fund may be allocated for Guwahati-Dehradun line via Nalagarh,

Baddi, Baroti-wala, Surajpur, Kola-amb, Paunta Sahib for which the survey was carried out in 2011, to Shimala railway station be developed as model railway station and all the railway station located on Kalba-Shimla railway line should be beautified and renewed .

DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA: There is no local train between

Durgapur and Bardhman. You may be aware that Bardhman is an old and a growing town which has got a university, a medical college and also is an agricultural belt. Durgapur is known as a steel city and an industrial town. There is no local train between Durgapur and Howrah. There is also no local train between

Katwa and Sealdah which is a very thickly populated belt. There is an urgent need for a railway overpass in Kalna Railway Gate in the outskirts of Bardhman town.

There is also a need for Talit rail gate overpass which connects the Siuri road and the National Highway 34 to North Bengal, Sikkim and all such places. There are no security arrangements in the trains. Everybody talks about security of women. But there are no security arrangements in the ladies compartments of the local trains running between Bardhman and Howrah.

SHRI D.S. RATHOD: The Rail Budget by NDA Government is a historical

Budget which brings happiness for Indian citizen. This Budget is going to fulfill all the requirements of passengers in future. There is a long pending demand since

1978 of gauge conversion of Modasa-Shamlogi-Udaipur and Amravati-

Himmatnagar-Shamloji. It should be completed in the interest of people of my

Country.

SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: This rail budget has been presented with motherly touch. Small things has been kept in mind while presenting the rail budget. I congratulate the hon. Minister for this. The hon. Minister has taken several steps in the interest of the Indian Railways and the passengers. I have demanded an overbridge at Sandila and Balamau earlier. There is a immediate need to upgrade the platform at Mallawan. Besides the Bilhour Railway station under Kanpur district should also be upgraded and that station should be declared as B category station so that the passengers amenities could be increased at the said railway station. Stoppage should be given to Nauchandi Express and Mughalsarai

Express which passes through Balamau at the Balamau railway station. Stoppage should be given to Jammu Tawi Express which starts from Kanpur to Jammu and

Amritsar Express which runs from Kanpur to Amritsar at Madhoganj. One more passenger train should be introduce on Kanpur-Sitapur route via Mallawan.

Sitapur Express from Kanpur to Delhi via Mallawan should be restarted.

SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH: Present railway budget is the budget for the health of railways. I would like to demand that the headquarter of western railways should be shifted to Ahmedabad at the earliest.

Surat railway station should be declared as a division by assigning the status of

DRM office. No progress has been made since the announcement of making Surat as a world class station. That work should be completed. Surat-Mahuba(19025-

26) train should be run everyday instead of being run on weekly basis. The number of bogies in the trains passing through should be increased. The work of turning Bibi Mora line railway line into broad gauge should be complete at the earliest. Lok Shakti Express and Dehradun Express should be given stoppage in my Parliamentary Constituency and Gujarat Express should be given stoppage at the Sayan railway station. A FoB should be approved for the Uttran railway station. A direct train from Somnath to North India should be started. A direct train service should be started from Surat to West Bengal.

Bandra-Patna(19049-50) train which runs once in a week should be run daily.

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: I would like to express my gratitude to the hon. Minister of Railways for presenting a growth oriented budget.

This budget will help railways become world class transportation system. A train from Sikar to Delhi via Loharu should be started at the earliest. Several religious centres fall within 50 km. circumference of headquarter Sikar. Therefore trains between Sikar to Loharu, Sikar to Delhi via Loharu(Daily), Sikar to Kolkata and

Sikar to Guwahati should be started at the earliest.

SHRI SHAILESH KUMAR: An announcement was made in the year 2009 regarding setting up of division office in Bhagalpur but nothing has been done in this regard. This Budget lacks vision. Provision should be made for providing stoppage of Rajdhani Express running between Howrah-Kolkata to New Delhi at

Bhagalpur. Intercity train should also be introduced between Bhagalpur-Banka.

SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA: Work pertaining to ongoing project of construction of pit lane between Bidar and Gulbarga section in my Parliamentary

Constituency should be completed within the period of 2-3 months. Coach factory in Yaadgir district of my Constituency should be commissioned. Announcement made regarding setting up of division office Gulbarga should be implemented.

There is a urgent need of ROB at Bhangur village located between Jehrabad and

Bidar. Apart from that number of coaches in the train running between Mumbai and Latur should be increased to 22 coaches by adding 5 coaches to it.

SHRI PREM DAS RAI: I would also like to thank the hon. Minister for the kind of thrust that has been given to the North-Eastern States, especially the

Rangpo-Sevoke railway line which has been languishing for the last five years. A sum of Rs. 230 crore has been allocated this year. From 1947 onwards, we have not been able to add to our knowledge how mountain railways are made. That in itself is something which we need to do because if China can bring railways at a height of over 15,000 feet, we should be able to bring this kind of railways in the mountains of the Himalayas. A trans-Himalayan Railway Line should be thought of in future.

SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV: In the Railway Budget for

2009-10, an announcement was made to open a divisional office in Bhagalpur but the same has not been opened yet. Silk industry is a major industry in Bhagalpur.

It is also called Silk City. The businessmen from various parts of the country visit here in connection with their silk business. I, therefore, demand that the Howrah-

New Delhi Rajdhani Express should be given a stoppage at Bhagalpur. A railway crossing or rail over bridge needs to be constructed at the Lailakh railway station.

Similarly, a RoB is also needed at railway crossing no. 11 between Navgachiya and Katariya railway station. A foot over bridge needs to be constructed at the

Narayanpur railway station to facilitate the movement of passengers from one platform to other. Warehousing and parcel service needs to be started at Bihpur.

The Railway reservation counter and enquiry service counter at Bihpur should be made functional from 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. The Bhagalpur-New Delhi Express train should be made a daily train. All the trains which originates from Bhagalpur should have four extra reserved coaches. A Shatabdi Express train should be introduced between Bhagalpur and Howrah. Similarly, a Janshatabdi Express should also be introduced on a daily basis. All the trains bound for Howrah from

Punjab should ply via Bhagalpur. The Ang Express between Bhagalpur to

Yeshwantpur should run daily. The number of coaches needs to be increased in the Bhagalpur-Anand Vihar Garib Rath train. A new express train should be introduced from Bhagalpur to Jaipur. A train should be introduced between Bhagalpur to Lucknow, similarly, between Bhagalpur to New

Delhi.

SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: The hon. Railway Minister has tried to translate our hon. Prime Minister's vision of "Make in India" and "Sabka Sath, Sabka

Vikash" into an honest and growth-oriented action plan. He tried to draw attention towards small comforts like ladders for the sleeper class passengers. For the convenience of the passengers, he has tried to provide chairs for women passengers as well as senior citizens and tried to reserve the lower berth for old-age passengers and the middle berth to women passengers. In the 2014-15 Railway Budget, a new line was announced between Bellary and Gabbur but till today no effective steps are taken and no funds are allotted. I would request the hon. Minister to allocate some fund for this and to complete the Rayadurga-Tumkur line and Munirabad-

Mehbubnagar line. I would also request him to connect Swamihalli-Rayadurga line via Rampur and Hanagal which only has a distance of 30 kms and to take steps to connect Ranjitpur near Toranagal-Lakshmipur-Sandur-Yeshvantnagar. It will reduce the distance, time and cost of transport of coal to BTPS and will reduce the congestion of traffic on Bellary and Hosapete line.

SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH: I would like to draw the attention of

Hon. Minister to my Parliamentary Constituency Dhanbad and the state of

Jharkhand. This has been our long standing demand that Dhanbad, Ranchi,

Chakradharpur and half division of Adra should be merged into a new zone. This is divided into three zones. I would demand from new trains in larger public interest. New trains are needed from Dhanbad to Delhi and Dhanbad to Mumbai.

Ranchi-Yashwantpur express train should be extended upto Dhanbad. A new train is needed from Dhanbad to Surat. A new train is also needed from Dhanbad to

Ahmadabad via Jaipur. A new train should be introduced from Dhanbad to South

India connecting Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Damodar express should extended upto Bauxer. Ranchi Jai Nagar express should be made daily. Trains are also needed from Dhanbad to Baliya and Dhanbad to Pune. The

Garib Rath plying between Delhi to Gaya should be extended upto Dhanbad. A stoppage of Dumka Ranchi Intercity should be given at Kumardhubi station.

SHRI CHANDULAL SAHU: These are important demands relating to my

Parliamentary Constituency. Chhatisgarh has about 1195 km rail line which are not adequate. Therefore, a survey has been initiated for laying a new rail line for faster development of Chhatisgarh under which rail services should be introduced from Mahasamand to Tumgaon, Patewa, Pithora, Basna, Srayapali to Bargarh

(Odisha). The gauge conversion work from Raipur to Dhantari should be expedited and new train service should be extended from Dhamtri to Kaanker Jagdalpur .

Gauge conversion should be undertaken from Raipur to Raazim and a train service should be introduced from Gariyaband Manpur Devbhag to Dharamjaigarh in

Odisha. Mahasamand, Baghbahara and Komakhan railway stations are operated from Sambalpur division which should be operated from Raipur. Rajdhani express plying from Raipur to Delhi three days a week should be made daily. ROBs should be constructed at railway crossing in Mahasamand city and Nadi Maud railway crossing. Up and down stoppage of Surat-Puri express, Jagdalpur-Durg express, Puri-Gandhidham express, Puri-Lok Manya Tilak Terminal express, Puri-

Shirdi express, Puri-Ajmer express should be provided at Bagbahara railway station.

DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD: I would request the hon. Minister to extend MMTS services to Yadadri which is the biggest religious centre in

Telangana on par with Tirupati. I would also request for doubling of line between

Nadikudi and Bibinagar. I would also request for setting up of Railway Medical

College and Railway University at Secunderabad, for which the State Government is ready to provide land to any extent. I would request for recruitment of 'C' and

'D' category posts in the Railways.

SHRI ALOK SANJAR: I would like to draw the kind attention of Hon.

Railway Minister to some demands relating to my Parliamentary Constituency,

Bhopal. A new train service needs to be introduced from Bhopal to Lucknow,

Bhopal to Pura and from Bhopla to Ahmadabad. A shed needs to be constructed at platform No. 6 of Bhopal railway station for passengers. Lifts and escalators are also required to be installed at Bhopal railway station for sick, aged and disabled passengers. I also demand introduction of EMU trains from Beena to Bhopal and from to Bhopal. About 200 acres of land available in Rail Coach Factory may be utilized for opening a railway university.

SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE: Hon'ble Minister for Railways has stressed upon to bring substantial improvement in existing high density network and better passenger amenities. In this Budget step taken for cleanliness, ticketing within five minutes, elimination of warrant travelling at 600 places out of 2000 places introduction of centrally control display network, SMS alert, installation of

CCTV cameras for women safety, mobile charging facility even in general coaches, wi-fi facilities at category B stations, to increase passenger coach from existing 24 to 26, AC EMU service in Mumbai and higher priority on the projects which are on the verge of completion are major welcome steps. I demand that helpers and commission vendors already working in base kitchen and Jan Aahar in

Bhusawal division should be included in proposed new kitchen. The Hon'ble

Minister has accepted a long pending demand by introducing a weekly Dadar-

Bhusawal super fast express train. Sir, this train should be run thrice in a week and later on daily basis. Delhi-Bhusawal-Mumbai route does not have any premier train at present. Delhi-Bhopal shatabdi express should be bifurcated and extended upto Bhusawal. I also demand that an University may kindly be set up in Bhusawal division for imparting training to railway employees.

SHRI V. ELUMALAI : Chennai should be given high priority under the

Diamond Quadrilateral high speed Rail Network. Sufficient funds may be allocated to increase the pace of ongoing railway projects in Tamil Nadu. Action should be taken given to expedite the work on Tindivanam to Thiruvannamalai and

Tindivanam to Nagari Projects. I urge upon the Railway Minister to take up the project linking the coastal area along the East Coast side between Chennai and

Tuticorin via Puducherry, Cuddalore, Karaikkal, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram.

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS : Tripling of Nagpur-Vardha rail line, allocation of Rs 25 crores for Amravati-Morasi-Varud-Narkhed route and conceding other long pending demands of region has cheered the people of

Vidhraba. I demand that a new train from Vardha to Poona and from Sevagram to

Mumbai should be introduced after the names of Vinoba bhave and Mahatma Gandhi respectively. There is a need to provide funds in the Budget for converting

Arvi - Pulgaon and Pulgaon - Amala meter gauge line into broad gauge.

DR. SATYA PAL SINGH: I request the Honourable Minister to provide medical facilities at least on all the major stations, to increase the number of general coaches, to introduce Kisan Rail . The Security on minor stations should also be a priority.

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: Hon'ble Minister has stress upon the Decongestion of heavy haul routes, gauge conversion, Passenger Amenities,

Safety, Surveillance and creation of job opportunities by upgrading the manufacturing capability. I would like to thank the Hon'ble Minister for reconnaissance Engineering cum Traffic Survey for new line between Malegaon-

Satana-Sakri-Chinchpara (100 kms) and new Line between Umarpara and

Nandurbar. My demand to the Hon'ble Minister to upgrade Nandurbar Railway

Station as model station. To increase VIP Quotas for Nandurbar Station, introduction intercity train on Nandurbar-Vasai-Pune route, MEMU train between

Nandurbar-Udhana-Jalgaon. VIP Waiting Room is needed at NDB station. FOBs should be constructed at NDB Station and Chichpada Stations. Full Rake facility for NDB goods shed.

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI: The work of

Varda- railway line sanctioned in the year 2008-09 and running through my parliamentary constituency, is going on at a snail's pace. The people and the farmers of Yavatmal want the work of railways to be completed as soon as possible. Handsome compensation should be paid to the farmers whose land is occupied under the project and there should also be a provision to give job to a family member of such farmers. There is need to sanction the work of gauge conversion of Shakuntala railway line. An ROB should be constructed at Vashim.

Nagpur-Mumbai train that runs once a week, should be run on daily basis. Train from Nanded to Amritsar should also be run daily. Besides, trains should be run the whole week between Ajmer and Hyderabad, Amarawati to Tirupati, Nanded to

Sriganganagar and Yashwantpur to Indore.

SHRI RAJEEV SATAV: There is a long pending demand for making

Mumbai-Hingoli train a daily train which should be paid heed to. I would request that Jyotirlngas like Audha Nagnath, Parli Vaijyanath, Ghrashneshwar,

Bhimashankar and Shaktipeeths like Mahur, Wani etc. should be included in the railway route of the tourist circuit if the Government is considering to start service on this circuit. Nanded Division that comes under Secundarabad Zone should be brought under the . Over bridges and Under bridges should be built on the Hingoli, Kinwat, G Nanded and Gokunda railway line. The

Mumbai-Nanded Tapovan Express should be extended up to Adilabad and stoppage of Nandigram Express should be provided at Bodhari station. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: I would like to urge upon the hon.

Minister to set up a Railway University at Vadodara, which is a cultural and educational hub of the State. Vadodara station should be included in the Model

Railway Station scheme. Makarpura, Bajwa, Vishwamitri and Chhayapuri

Railway Stations coming under the Vadodara Railway Division should be developed as satellite railway terminals.

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the hon. Minister for sanctioning a budget of Rs. 144 crore for

Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli railway line in my constituency. I would like to request him to extend the Mumbai-Latur Express train sanctioned two years ago upto Parli.

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY: I represent the Kodarma

Parliamentary constituency in Jharkhand. I demand that an EMU train be introduced from Kodarma to Ranchi and back. A Duranto express between Ranchi and Delhi should be introduced. The Ranchi Rajdhani and the train No. 12365/66

Jan Shatabdi should be given stoppage at Hazaribag Road. A Superfast or a Garib

Rath should be introduced between Delhi and Dhanbad. I would like to draw the attention of the Hon. Minister towards six projects namely Ranchi-Bakakana-

Hazaribag-Kodarma, Ranchi-Lohardaga, Kodarma-Giridih, Devghar-Dumka,

Dumka-Rampurhat which are lying pending for years. Further, the Godda-

Hasandiha rail link and Tata Nagar - Ranchi Rail link projects had also been announced in the year 2011-12. I request the Minister to complete these projects.

In Jharkhand, a large quantity of minerals like Coal, Iron Ore etc. are transported through railways. For this purpose, the state need 38 ROBs in the South Eastern

Railways, Eastern Railways and Easter Central Railways. I request the grant approval to the construction of these ROBs.

SHRI HARI MANJHI: I would like to draw the attention of the hon.

Minister towards the Gaya Parliamentary Constituency. I request the Minister to introduced a direct train from Gaya to Mumbai and a Double Decker Train for

Kolkata to Gaya via Dhanbad. The Garib Rath train should be run daily. The Gaya railway station should be upgraded as a model station. A hotel may be constructed on the vacant land lying near Gaya railway station to promote tourism.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN: I would like to appreciate the approach, the concept and the vision made in the Railway Budget. But I would like to express my strong opposition in respect of privatization of Indian Railways. The

Ministry plans to raise 40.6 per cent of the Plan Outlay through the extra budgetary resources which will come from joint ventures, foreign direct investment, public-private participation and the Special Purpose Vehicle. I would like to make three concrete suggestions before the hon. Railway Minister. My first suggestion is encourage the public sector undertakings to have their investment in

Indian Railways. Secondly, enhance the efficiency of the Indian Railways by improving the operating ratio. Thirdly, there should be a commercial utilization of the surplus land of the Indian Railways. I would also like to say one point regarding the freight traffic. In the 160 years of the history of Indian Railways, increase in freight tonnage by an incremental 85 million tonnes is being anticipated in 2015-16. The only question is, whether it is possible or not. In the year 2014-15,

Gross Traffic Receipt is less by Rs. 917 crore compared to the Budget Estimate of the year, 2014-15. In this year, 2015-16, you are anticipating 16.7 per cent excess in passenger traffic. It is not in consonance with the real economic terms. I would like to make two, three points regarding my constituency. My first suggestion is that there has to be a new train from Punalur to Kollam and to Karaikal or extension of the Tea Garden Express up to Karaikal. There has to be another train from Chhattisgarh.

DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH: The train service from Odisha is far below in comparison to other states. I propose that a Rajdhani Express between

Bhubaneswar-Delhi via Sambalpur, Superfast Express train between

Visakhapatnam-Allahabad via Sambalpur, Direct Express train between

Bhubneswar-Chandigarh- via Sambalpur be introduced. The frequency of

Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin and Puri-Ahmedabad Express be increased. The Pantry Car services should be provided in Bhubneswar-Daug

Intercity Express. The fast moving MEMU/DMU services be introduced on Vishakhapatnam-Allahabad, Titilagarh-Bhubaneswar and Baragarh-New Delhi sections. The popular trains like Hirakhand Express, Puri-Sambalpur Intercity

Express, Bhubaneswar-Bolangir Intercity Express, Bhubaneswar-Baripada

Express, Puri-Ahmedabad Express, Puri-Okha Express, Lokmanya Tilak-

Bhubaneswar Express and the Puri-Durg Express should be augmented by additional AC and Non-AC coaches. The ROBs may be constructed at

Chaukipada-Jharsugura, Jagannath Nagar, Barpali, Near Bainda Railway Station and Khetrajpur, Sambalpur. The Rourkela- Express, Sirdi Sai Express,

Sambalpur-Namdev Express and Nagavail Express trains should be halted at

Barpali and Bargarh. The frequency of the Bhubneswar-Yashwantpur Express,

Puri-Jodhpur Express and Puri-Lokmanyatilk Express trains should be increased.

The Raigarh-Gondia Express should be extended to Jharsuguda. The Bilaspur-

Raigarh Passenger should be extended to Sambalpur. The Tata Nagar-Badampahar

Passenger should be extended Rourkela. Puri-Talcher Passenger may be extended to NTPC. New Delhi-Ranchi Sampark Kranti, Amritsar-Tata Jalianwala Bagh and

New Delhi -Ranchi Garib Rath may be extended to Rourkela. Rourkela-Korapur

Passenger may be extended to Kantabanjhi and Tirupati-Bilaspur to Banaras.

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN: This Rail budget has many positive prospective. As is the case with rail density, the train service from the

State of Odisha is far below in comparison to other States. It is therefore proposed that the train Rajdhani Express between Bhubaneswar-Delhi via Sambalpur,

Superfast Express train between Visakhapatnam-Allahabad via Sambalpur, Direct

Express train between Bhubaneswar-Chandigarh-Kalka via Sambalpur be provided. It is requested to increase frequency of Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin

SAMATA Express from 5 days to daily and Puri-Ahmedabad Express via

Sambalpur once to 3 days. It is requested to provide pantry car services in

Bhubaneswar -Daug Intercity Express. It is also requested to introduce fast moving main line MEMU trains to cater to the needs of daily commuters in various sections. Additional AC and Non-AC coaches should be augmented in various trains. ROB may be constructed at Chaukipada-Jharsugura, Jagannath Nagar,

Barpali, Bargarh, Near Bainda Railway station, Khetrajpur, Sambalpur. Rourkela-

Koraput Express, Sirdi Sai Express and Sambalpur-Namdev Express be halted at

Barpali. Frequency may be increased of Bhubaneswar-Yashwantpur Express, Puri-

Jodhpur Express, Puri-Lokamanya Tilak Express. It is requested to extend various trains to Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Banaras.

SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI: I represent

Ahmadnagar Parliamentary Contituency. A new railway line should be laid from

Pune -Ahmadnagar via Keugaon- Kaathi as per the survey. A new railway line should be laid from Ahmadnagar-Beed-Parli. A subway should be constructed at the place of railway level crossing near Akovener village. Shed should be constructed at platform no.1 and facility of entry gate and booking window and other public amenities be provided at platform no. 2 of Ahmadnagar railway station. All weekly trains passing through Daund- Manmad line should be provided stoppage at Ahmadnagar station. Pantry car may be provided in Kolhapur-

Nizamuddin Express. I request that an S.R.A. scheme may be formulated and implemented for the development of railway land so that a good and authorized houses can be constructed for the slum dwellers at the places where railway land has been encroached. I support this railway budget.

KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: My request to the hon.

Minister of Railways is that Bharua, Maudaha, Mataund, Kabrai , Mahoba,

Kulpahar, Belatal etc. railway stations which falls under my parliamentary constituency Hamirpur in Bunderkhand region of Uttar Pradesh should be upgraded. Stoppage of Durg Express may be provided at Sumerpur town of my parliamentary constituency. A new train should be introduced from Khajuraho to

Lucknow via Mahoba-Mataund-Kabrai-Banda-Ragaul-Sumerpur-Hamirpur-

Kanpur. A new railway station should be constructed in Hamirpur near Durga

Temple. Mahoba station should be brought under the category of model station.

The work of doubling and electricfication should be undertaken from Jhansi to

Manikpur line. SHRI BIRENDRA KUMAR CHOUDHARY: This rail budget provides for removing the mismanagement prevailing in the railways. The work of gauge conversion from Jhanjharpur to Lokha was started in the year 1998 but the said work has not been completed till date. The gauge- conversion work of Sakri-

Nirmali was started in the year 2002 but this work has been lying incomplete till date. There are dozens of railway stations in my Parliamentary Constituency but none of these stations has provision of rack. Sampark Kranti and Swatantrata

Senani trains should be extended from Darbhanga upto Jainagar and Garib Rath should be run on daily basis.

SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: It has been for the first time that this railway budget has been prepared keeping in view the entire country and not any specific state or constituency. I demand that with a view to promoting tourism

Jaipur railway station should be upgraded, renovated and made a world class railway station. All the superfast trains like Rajdhani, Duronto etc cross through

Gandhi Nagar and Durgapura railway station but these trains do not stop at these stations. Stoppage of all these trains should be provided at both the said sations.

Khatipura, Jagatpura, Sanganer and Dhankya, the birth place of Pandit Deendayal

Upadhyay – all these stations should be developed as terminals so as to reduce passenger traffic at Jaipur station. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: Shegaon is a pilgrim center situated on

Bhusawal – Nagpur broad gauge line in Bhusawal Division of the Central Railway.

The State of Maharshtra has sanctioned a special development plan of Rs.350 crores for Shegaon. It is requested to provide stoppage of 12859/60 Mumbai –

Howrah Gitanjali Express, 12843/44 Ahmadabad – Puri train, 18405/06

Ahmadabad-Puri, 11453/54 Nagpur-Ahmadabad (PrenaEx.), 16125/26 Jodhpur –

Chennai train, 12485/86 Shri Ganganagar – Nanded train and 12719/20 Ajmer –

Hyderabad train. Besides an enquiry window, foot over bridge, hightened platforms, ATM facility book stall and adequate number of sheds should be provided for convenience and safety of the passengers.

SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: Railway has made no progress in my Mumbai South Central Constituency. A proposal was made in the last budget to provide 864 modern EMU trains but no action has been taken so far in this regard. I demand to make provisions to provide more and more foot over bridges and escalators at Mumbai local stations and introduce a new train from Dadar to

Mankhurd and restore train service on the Kurla – Mankhurd section. There is a need to take immediate action to construct an elevated corridor on harbouar line.

Railway land lying vacant around the station in Mumbai and other parts of

Maharashtra. It should be considered to construct large commercial complexes there through PPP mode. It is necessary to make provisions for ambulance service and primary trauma center at all stations, construction of more and more bio toilets and installation of clean drinking water booths, laying of Mankhurd –Tadoja rail line, Provision of foot over bridge at S.N.D.T. College in Wadala, provision of Rs.

200 crores for each zone to provide 5 rakes in Central and Western Railway, provision of Rs.20 crores for door closures, development of Dadar Railway Station while reviving the same, provision to re develop Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar

Railway Station, conversion of Kurla – Trombay goods rail line into passenger line, conversion of BPT Link from Bilard to Virar on harbour line into passenger line, promotion of cleanliness campaign at stations in collaboration with various

NGO‟s and take necessary steps for effective implementation of cleanliness campaign in collaboration with Municipal Corporation at railway tracks. It is requested that immediate and effective steps should be taken to improve the quality of food provided at Railway Stations and trains and provide pantry car in each long distance trains. There is a need to take steps to provide quality food at affordable prices for the passengers traveling in sleeper class.

SHRI RAJU SHETTY: Efforts should be made to link Konkan to

Kolhapur. Distance of Kolhapur from Konkan is 78 km. In order to reduce this distance Marathwada region should be linked to Western Maharashtra Konkan

Railway and Ratnagiri Port. Konkan Railway remain closed for 15 days due to land sliding. In such circumstances bypass from Kolhapur to Mumbai via Pune should be made and Kolhapur- Ratnagiri-Konkan Railway Project should be commissioned at the earliest. Hon‟ble Minister has announced doubling of Miraj to

Pune rail line. The said rail line should also be electrified. A superfast train should be introduced from Kolhapur to Mumbai during morning hours so that people could visit Mumbai and return the same day. I request stoppage of superfast trains at Jaysingpur station.

SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN: Hon‟ble Minister has provided many new things in the budget but it is necessary that the trains run on time. The second thing is related to the cleanliness in trains. The third point is related to security of women and the fourth point pertains to good quality food. I would like to request that it would be better if these issues are paid proper attention. Supaul station should be named after Shri Lalit Narayan Mishra. Garib Rath was for the first time started for Saharsha. It is a bi-weekly train. It would be better if this train is run thrice a week.

SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE: Regarding the Railway Budget, I would like to congratulate the Railway Minister for presenting a budget which will bring reforms in future. Establishment of a full time Railway Vidyapeeth has been announced in this budget. This full time Railway Vidyapeeth should be set up in my parliamentary constituency Sambhajinagar (). This will boost the progress of the whole Marathawada region. Passengers travelling through trains have been taken special care of in this railway budget. Besides, the impressions of the Prime Minister‟s “Swachha Bharat Abhiyan” have also become visible in the budget. It is proposed to construct seven thousand toilets. This is a good initiative.

I am unhappy with the constant negligence being shown by the Railways towards my Marathwada region. This is an important tourism site where world famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora are located which are also world Heritage sites and several ancient and famous religious places also exist apart from this. However, there is no direct train for Sambhaji (Aurangabad). Hence, there is a need for introducing a new and direct train from Delhi to Aurangabad. Nanded Division together with Mudkhed and Dharmabad Division, which are under the South

Central Railway, should be brought under the Central Railway. Aurangabad station got the status of a “Model Station” 4-5 years back, however, less than half of the work has been completed so far. It should be included in the list of “Model

Station” where other facilities including the wi-fi and e-connectivity are made available. Demand for doubling and electrification of railway line from Parbani

SCR to Manmad is lying pending for a long time. My suggestion is that it should be completed it in several phases. Survey of Rotegaon-Puntaban line has been completed three years back. But the work on this route has not been started till today. Nanded Amritsar (2715/2716) Sachkhand Express should be further extended to Jammu – Tawi from Amritsar. This will make it easy for the devotees to reach Shri Hazoor Sahib, Shri Akal Takht Sahib (Swarna Mandir) and Mata

Vaishno Devi. „Meenakshi Express‟ train should run via Parbani-Aurangabad up to

Manmad. „Aurangabad – Mumbai - Aurangabad‟ night train service should be introduced. „Dikshabhoomi Express‟ train should be run on daily basis. Another train through Shirdi Manmad – Aurangabad – Akola –Nagpur- Raipur via Howrah

(Kolkata) should be introduced. The Government of India had proposed Rupees

1.5 lakhs for survey work of Aurangabad Kannad – Chalisgaon line in the year

2013-14. NHAI has proposed to construct a tunnel at National Highway No- 11 on this route for which survey is going to take place. This tunnel will pass though

Atram Ghat. If the Railways and NHAI jointly carry out this survey work, railway lines can be constructed on both sides of the road of the NHAI which will pass through the tunnel. This will save both plenty of time and a lot of money. I expect that the Railways and NHAI will start joint survey work very soon.

SHRI RAMESHWAR TELI: I support the Railway Budget and request the government to look into the following issues, which would go a long way in developing the railway networks in the entire North East Region. Construction of double lines where single line railway track still exists. Electrification of lines and use of electric locomotive. New train from Dibrugarh to Mumbai. Extension of railway line up to Jairampur from Ledo. Declaration of Dibrugarh and New

Tinsukia railway stations as Adarsh Railway Stations. Two minutes halt of the Dibrugarh – New Delhi Rajdhani Express at Duliajan Railway Station and specific

Railway zone exclusively for eight North Eastern States.

SHRI RAVINDER KUSHAWAHA: The Railway Budget 2015-16 presented by hon‟ble Minister is very commendable. Even half of the new trains announced during the last 10-15 years have not been started yet. Even after 67 years of our Independence only about 15 thousand-kilometer networks has been added in the railway network. Dr. Anil Kakodkar committee, a high level committee constituted by the previous government has mentioned in its report that

Indian railway is grappling with weak infrastructure and its economic condition is also in bad shape. Therefore, one lakh crore rupees has to be mobilized by the

Railways in the next five years to ensure safe traveling. For this purpose twenty thousand crore rupees has to be arranged every year for this purpose. Apart from this, the said committee also suggested the constitution of an independent railway safety authority and also to upgrade Railway Development and Standard

Organisation (RDSO). So far as catering facility is concerned there is scope for large scale improvement in it. During the last few years the quality and quantity of food has deteriorated and its price is continuously increasing. To rectify it there is a need to check the irregularity, economic misconduct and arbitrariness of the officers of IRCTC. The small license holders who support their families by selling tea on stations are being removed due to no reason. It proves that IRCTC is taking such steps to benefit the big contractors. Along with this doubling and electrification of Bhatni – Vanarasi rail section in North eastern railway may be carried out. Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duranto trains should be started between New

Delhi and Lucknow and up to Barauni Junction via Gorakhpur and Chhapra. The birth place of Lord Budha, Lumbani, Maparinirvan site Kushinagar and the site of his first Sermon, Sarnath should be connected with rail network. Stoppage of all the trains should be provided at Salempur Junction station. Bilthara road station and Bhatpar Rane Railway Stations. Stoppage of all trains passing thourgh

Chhapra-Baliya -Varanasi rail section should be provided at Rewati railway station.

SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL : Railways is the lifeline of the country.

The rail budget is a bit offbeat this time. It does not contain announcements of numerous projects which would never be completed. All parts of the country have been given due consideration in this budget. Meerut is the most important city in

Uttar Pradesh since it borders the National Capital Region, Delhi. I have been constantly raising the issue of doubling and electrification of the rail divisions from

Delhi to Saharanpur and Delhi to Moradabad. I am grateful to the hon. Railway

Minister for sanctioning the work of doubling of the rail line from Muzaffarpur to

Saharanpur. Meerut is a major industrial city in Western Uttar Pradesh. It is extremely important to establish a container depot in Meerut to facilitate export. I request the Railway Minister to consider the work of laying of rail line from

Meerut to Hastinapur as a social responsibility and take it up on an urgent basis.

Work on rail lines from Panipat to Meerut and Daurala to Bijnore via Hastinapur may be started on an early basis. A train may be run between Meerut and

Vrindavan via Hapur-Bulandshahr-Khurja; a new shuttle train may be started from

Garh Mukteshwar to New Delhi via Hapur-Anand Vihar; the Moradabad-Hapur

(54305) and Hapur-Ghaziabad (54301) passenger train be extended upto New

Delhi; a new train from Meerut to Howrah via Allahabad be started; a Pooja special train started from Kathgodam to Delhi via Hapur which was discontinued should be started again; Mandor Express be extended upto Meerut again; and a direct train service named Ganga Express may be started between Haridwar and

Varanasi.

SHRI RAM SWAROOP SHARMA : I am grateful that for the first time

Himachal Pradesh has got a basket of gifts in the Rail Budget. Provision of 160 crore rupees for the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur rail line and 95 crore rupees for

Chandigarh-Baddi line has been made and electrification of a 25 km stretch between Una-Amb has been sanctioned. For the first time provision of 360 crore rupees for laying of three rail lines in this state has been made. This time the people of Himachal Pradesh have been given the great gift of conducting of survey for laying of the Pathankot-Leh-Ladakh rail line. The proposed Pathankot- Leh- Ladakh line via Joginder Nagar has got huge potential. This rail line would give tourism a new identity and direction and make it the biggest circuit of Buddhist tourism. The tourists would be able to enjoy the unmatched beauty of the region all year round. The Pathankot- Leh- Ladakh route is important from military point of view as well as full of commercial potential. A number of trades and factories can be set-up in this geographical area where temperature goes below zero degree and which has an abundance of rare metals and minerals.

SHRI ANIL SHIROLE : The hon. Minister of Railways has presented a balanced and development oriented budget. Passenger fares and freight charges have not been increased so as to provide relief to common man. New Metro rail projects are proposed to be initiated throughout the country. I would like to say that in view of the growing population instead of standard gauge, metro rail tracks should be laid in broadgauge. Concerned state governments should be consulted in this regard. The cost of standard gauge may be less but broad gauge doubles the capacity of trains. The 'Make in India' vision can be realized by manufacturing metro coaches indigenously and the youth of the country will also get employment through it. Metro rail projects should also be included in the programmes being launched under 49 per cent FDI in Railways.

SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR : In this rail budget, special attention has been paid towards safety and security. 'Helpline' for women passengers has been provided. Efforts have been made to bring radical changes in Railways by completing the long pending projects. Introducing railway reservation three month before the journey will help in controlling the rush of passengers. There is a proposal to increase capacity of Railways from 21 million to 30 million. Laying of approximately 24,000 km. new railway track will facilitate passengers and save time in transportation of goods. Upgradation of railway tracks will increase the speed of trains and save time of passengers. There is a proposal to facilitate passengers by introducing technical development in Railways. Introduction of bullet train will usher a new era in Railways. There is also a proposal to increase public amenities and develop more model railway stations.

DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK : The futuristic plan for the development of railways presented by the hon. Minister would certainly bring a drastic change in Indian Railways. A mega plan has been formulated to invest 8.5 lakh crore rupees in the Indian Railways. This Budget would play an important role in achieving the targets of 'Make in India' and 'Skill India'. A plan has been formulated for setting up and developing railway network by the year 2019 with an amount of Rs.39000 crore in North East and Kashmir in view of the adverse geographical conditions. I impress upon to include Uttarkhand in this plan. The

Government has taken effective steps to ensure the participation of State governments, public and joint venture undertakings, foreign institutions and private sector companies to achieve the concept of time bound development.

My request is to commence the work on Rishikesh-Karna Prayag line, laying a railway line for direct link between Rishikesh-Doiwala immediately. There is a need to start the work on Roorkee rail route via Deoband Jhabreda, upgrade the railway stations at Dehradun, Haridwar, Hajeebabad and Kotdwar and expedite the doubling of rail line. A rail line from Haridwar to Ramnagar via Kotdwar may be sanctioned. There is a need to expedite the work on Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail route which will boost the bilateral trade with Nepal. All the trains to Haridwar may be routed to Rishikesh via Railwala. There is a need to construct over bridges at all the railway crossings in Haridwar and Dehradun districts and run trains to provide rail connectivity with Haridwar and all the headquarters of the country.

SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM : The hon. Minister of Railways has not only made vigorous and meaningful efforts to improve the economy of Railways but also made effective efforts to enhance the capacity, safety and security and morale of the Railways to overcome the problem of poor investments.

The Divisions are the main units in Railways but there is a need to provide more financial autonomy and financial rights to these divisions. The efficiency of

Railways could be enhanced by accommodating the surplus officers of regional headquarters to Divisional level. In the budget focus has been given to cleanliness, speed, technical upgradation in Railways and adequate importance has been given to amenities and security of passengers. The assurance to provide rail ticket in five minutes is a commendable step and tickets without reservation can be booked through smart phones. It is proposed to add more coaches to general categories in trains thus making the journey of passengers travelling on tickets without reservation easy. Installation of CCTVs in reserved coaches for women has been proposed which will ensure safer journey of women in suburban trains.

Introduction of a new helpline is also an important step in view of security.

E-ticketing in 108 trains has been announced where passengers could order their food as per their choice and strict check will be kept on the quality of food in other trains also.

Special attention has been given to cleanliness and bio-toilets in trains and stations are also proposed. Besides, upgradation of stations is also proposed. Two streams i.e. engineering and administrative should be introduced to simplify the complicated administrative system in the railways. There is a need to open stations of metropolitan cities and towns for business. In railways, there is not only need for development but also for participatory investment. The programme to exploit solar energy resources is commendable.

Several projects of Jharkhand are lying pending over the decade, so necessary steps should be taken to expedite the completion of these projects. The naxal problem is a serious matter which is affecting the development of the state.

The naxal and land acquisition problems should be resolved at the earliest.

I demand that Daltonganj-Barwadih-Chirmiri rail line should be constructed; the stoppage of Shaktipunj Express and Triveni link Express should be given at

Ramna railway station; all the facilities of model station should be provided at

Daltonganj station; Varanasi. Sambalpur Express should be extended upto

Chennai, Shaktipunj Express should be extended upto Mumbai; the stoppage of

Palamu Express should be provided at Kajrat Navadih station and computerized system should be provided at Nagar Untari Railway station.

SHRI AJAY TAMTA : In this rail budget attention has been paid towards passenger amenities. A large number of tourists and pilgrims visit my parliamentary constituency in Uttarakhand but it lacks adequate road and rail connectivity.

I demand that Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line should be laid from strategic and border point of view. Ramnager-Choukhatia-Gairsain and Tanakpur-Joulgibi rail line should be provided. I demand that Haldwani-Reetha Sahib rail line should also be provided to facilitate pilgrims. I request that in the Himalaya and hilly regions tunnels should be constructed to lay rail line to pave the way for comfortable journey and to avoid accidents. It will save time of passengers. SHRI DADDAN MISHRA : This budget is a progressive budget which will transform present dilapidated condition of Indian Railways and make its role stronger in Bharat Nirman. One new train 'Sushasan Express' has been introduced for Balrampur. Frequency of this train maybe increased particularly in weekends and the time of its arrival may please be changed to evening in spite of 9.30 in the morning. Laying of Bahraich-Shravasti-Balrampur-Utroula-Domariyaganj via

Khalilabad railway line project may be implemented for realizing the public aspirations.

My demand is that an over bridge may please be constructed on the railway crossing situated at Fulwaria by-pass of the road going from Bahraich-Balrampur via Utraula-Basti. Railway Under Bridge (RUB) may be constructed on the Rapti bridge at the Centre of Gaijhava and Jharkhandi Railway station. Level crossing or

RUB near canal maybe constructed in Manikura-Kahiram village at the centre of

Tulsipur and Labudva. A stoppage to Bihar Sampark Kranti, Saptkranti Express,

Amritsar-Saharsa , Udaipur-New Jalpaiguri Express, New

Delhi-Naharlagun A.C. Express etc. and all super fast and express trains may be given at Gonda station. Rajdhani Express train from Delhi to Gorakhpur may also be introduced.

SHRI NANA PATOLE : Appropriate measures should be taken to increase

Rail revenue. Strict attitude should be adopted towards the corruption being carried out by administrative officials of Railways. Irregularities in railway reservation should be checked. Every possible effort should be made to prevent rail accidents. The vacancies of railway signal engineers should be filled up and arrangements should be made for them to work regularity. Illegal hawkers should be disallowed in restricted areas and rail passengers should be provided such facilities.

Rail ticket booking facility should be started in village post-offices in

Bhandara-Gondia constituency. Additional amount should be sanctioned for the electrification of Gondia to Balarshah railway line and the height of the platform should be raised. Two minute stoppage of Express, Mumbai CST-

Gondia Express should be given at Tiroda railway station. New trains should be started from Gondia to Nagpur, Akola, Rameshwaram, Okha, Puri and Tumsar road junction. Jagdalpur-Durg, Danapur-Durg, Jammu Tawi-Durg, Hajrat

Nizamuddin-Durg, Ajmer-Durg, Vishakhapattnam-Durg, Ambicapur-Durg,

Kanpur-Durg, Chirimiri-Durg, Chhappara-Durg and Nantanrwa-Durg trains should be extended upto Gondia. Orders should be issued to run a special train from

Gondia to Katra. The proposal to start a special train for farmers from Bhandara-

Gondia to Mumbai C.S.T. should be implemented

SHRI KARADI SANGANNA AMARAPPA : Tourist facilities in Hampi-

A World Heritage site in Koppal Parliamentary Constituency needs to be improved and strengthened by providing Hubli-Chennai via Koppal-Guntakal-New train;

Vosco-Hawra (weekly to be enhanced to everyday); Hubli-NZM via KPL-Bellary-

GTL-NGP (New Train); Hospet-Banglore(New Train); Mysore-Shirdi (Weekly to be enhanced to thrice a week); Bangalore-Ajmir via Hubli (Weekly to thrice a week) and funds may be provided for Bellary-Gabbur Survey work; Koppal-

Bagalkot Survey fund, Gadagwadi via Koodal Sangama. Additional Funds for

Ginigera-Mehaboobnagar; Gadag-Wadi via Lingasagur and newly created

Gulbarga Division may be provided. Stoppage of various trains at Ginigera being near to industrial Hubs-Kalyani, X-India, MSPL and Kirloskar.

SHRIMATI MEENAKSHI LEKHI : I would like to describe this Rail

Budget-'pragmatic'. This budget has stayed within the realm of the possible and not made tall promises of new lines without taking into account the need to accumulate funds to the tune of Rs.8.5 lakh crore from various sources first. The

Plan Outlay has been increased to 1,00,011 crore in 2015-16 with 41.6% to be constituted from Centre and 17.8% through internal generation.

Three main aspects of the Budget are the focus on people, the focus on environment and the focus on technology. The very first thrust area mentioned by the Hon. Minister is the 'quality of life in journeys', showcasing the penultimate need to focus on providing people good services. Keeping the passenger as supreme he has allowed an unprecedented increase of fund allotment by 67% only for passenger amenities; this includes water arrangements, lighting, waiting halls, toilet, bridges and Wi-fi.

The attention has been given to persons with disabilities. The differently- abled have also been given concessional e-ticket facility and online booking of wheelchairs. The Budget has now brought the Clean India Mission and Green

India vision to the railways sector. Basic water recycling plants, solar projects and dual fuel sustainable trains that will run on CNG and diesel have been introduced.

The LED scheme has taken another step forward with its introduction in the railways. The Budget has taken into consideration India's first bullet train between

Mumbai-Ahmedabad. A combination of the Make in India vision with that of the

Rail Budget will drive the engine of growth in this country.

SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT : The Government has expressed seriousness in

Railway Budget and has done right by focusing on capacity building challenge.

The investment of 8 lakh 56 thousand crores in Railways over the next five years has been stated in the budget which is a step in the right direction to fulfil the requirements and priorities of the Railways. The proposal to introduce trains on 9 routes with speed of 200 kmph is a welcome step. Introduction of CCTVs in coaches reflects the concern of government over the security of women.

Introduction of bio-toilets and vacuum based toilets in trains will affirm the purpose of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The drive to provide connectivity to North eastern states will strengthen the unity of India.

My parliamentary constituency is a very backward area. There is no ROB due to which people face jam of hours on railway crossings and there is no direct rail line from my constituency to Delhi.

Therefore, I request the government to release the funds for doubling of

Mathura-Kasganj-Farukhabad-Kanpur line, which was sanctioned earlier. Kanpur to Anand Vihar weekly train should be made to run thrice in a week. I also urge the Government to provide direct goods train to other states for supply of potatoes from my constituency as my area stands first in Asia in potato production.

SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN : This budget can be termed as a well researched reform document of the Indian Railway. The giant Indian Railway must be self sustainable with its own resources in immediate near future. Modernization of stations and junctions with required amenities is a good proposal. But, at the same time, the parity should be maintained in similar class of junctions and stations in the entire country. I request the Railway Minister to create mechanism to monitor the quality of food in each and every pantry car regularly. The Railway Minister should take up step to bridge the gap between the railway and common man and speed up the recruitment and promotion policy etc. The people of the north eastern region are still far away from the required level of railway service. So, I am taking this opportunity to request our Railway

Minister to approve the following projects to eliminate bottleneck of railway network; double line construction in both major track located at North and South bank of the Brahmaputra; conversion of the propose road bridge (already sanctioned) near Tezpur connecting north and south bank of the Brahmaputra; to a road cum rail bridge; construction of new line connecting Khumtai and

Jakhalabandha to eliminate bottleneck of the railway service at upper Assam and to provide railway service to the peoples of about five districts; installation of wagon manufacturing unit at Chandrapur, near Guwahati where all the essential amenities are there and abandoned government land is also available; and rearrangement of the jurisdiction of the RRB, Guwahati with Assam Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura,

Mizoram, Arunachal, Nagaland and Sikkim curtailing other states, if any. I hope, the Minister will honour the request of construction of two nos. ROB in my constituency.

The Minister of Railways has taken right decision to make railway land encroachment free. But people who have taken shelter in an unused railway land by making a small shelter due to poverty, deserve special attention from the

Government. So, I request the Railway Minister to stop random eviction and they should be served with proper notices giving sufficient time to arrange alternatives. I shall request the Railway Minister to give justice to the underprivileged, SC, ST and OBC category people in railway service.

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE : 300 new railway projects are incomplete some of them were sanctioned 30 years back. During last 10 years 99 projects were sanctioned and only 1 project is completed. Shatbadi and Rajdhani

Express are capable of speed 130 km/hrs. but average speed of these do not exceed

70 Km/hrs. and the ordinary passenger train cannot average more than 25 km/hr.

Railway facilities have not improved very substantially over the past few decades.

Lack of investment has stalled modernisation of railway sector, pushing it behind other modes of transport affecting its revenue generating capacity. Initiatives for cleanliness, comfort, accessibility, service quality and speed of train are appreciable. Guage conversion, doubling, tripling, electrification and modern rail technology will increase daily passenger capacity. Modernisation of tracks will increase annual freight carrying capacity and revenue generating capacity. MOU with States for Special Purpose Vehicle Model (SPV) will generate the funds through equities by State and Railways. Previous Governments have neglected

Dhule constituency, North Maharashtra. Dhule is not on main railway track.

There has been demand for Manmad-Indor Railway line since last 30 years. This new railway line will boost industrialization and that will generate employment opportunities to lakhs of youth from my area. SHRI BHOLA SINGH : Hon'ble Minister has done an appreciable job by making provision for better cleanliness, bio-toilets, clean beds, availability of tickets within 5 minutes to passengers having unreserved tickets, economical and clean drinking water. Evolving travel system for defence personnel, installation of cameras in coaches reserved for women, commencement of toll free no. 182 and

24x7 helpline no.138 for quick redressal of complaints/problems of passengers, facility of wi-fi on B-category stations, information of arrival-departure of trains on mobile phones through SMS, arrangement of food through e-catering are admirable works. Meghalaya has been connected with railways. Bulandshahar has a historical importance of its own. It is not connected with main lines of Indian

Railways. I urge the Hon. Minister to connect Bulandshahar with main lines of

Indian Railways and complete the work of line from Dadvi to Bulandshahar via

Jahangirabad. Anupshahar, Naraura, Rajghat and Chaula station to Bulandshahar.

One local train may also be introduced from Delhi to Bulandshahar.

SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE : Hon. Speaker, there is a need to lay

Shirdi-Manmad double railway line; Goti-Shirdi Tawa railway line and Pune-

Nasik Shirdi railway line in my parliamentary constituency.

SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE : In the year 2013-14, an announcement was made to convert the Nagpur-Nagbhind railway line from narrow gauge into broad gauge, in my Parliamentary constituency, Ramtek. Provision for providing funds alongwith initiation of work in this regard may be taken up.

SHRI DHARMENDRA KUMAR : A Railway over bridge must be constructed between Bareily junction and Chatehari on the Badaun Aligarh route in my Parliamentary constituency 24 Aonla and Chanehari railway station may be converted into a junction.

SHARI JAGDAMBIKA PAL : In this year's Rail Budget, the commitment for annual expenditure alongwith completion of projects worth Rs.8.5 lakh crore during the next five years has been reiterated. It has been decided to complete the remaining 317 rail projects out of the total 676 projects sanctioned for the last three decades, on priority basis. The Indian Railways has introduced a helpline number for the passengers across the country. Railways has decided to increase its passenger capacity from 2.10 crore to 3 crore per day including increasing its rail track length by 20 per cent i.e. from 1,14,000 kms to 1,38,000 kms and to increase the freight carrying capacity from 1 billion ton to 1.5 billion tonne. Important decisions like reducing congestion on heavy freight carrying routes, to increase speed of trains, gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification of rail routes have been taken. To promote the idea of Swaach Rail, Swaach Bharat, it has been decided to create a new Department for cleanliness and sanitation. New toilets and Bio-toilets will be constructed at 650 additional stations in comparison to 120 stations in the previous year. Online booking facility for NIFT sanitine disposable bedding has been provided. A 24x7 helpline no.138 and toll free no.

182 for passenger safety have been introduced for the passengers. Now unreserved tickets can be bought by rail passengers within five minutes. Passengers can now order their food online from IRCTC website at the time of booking their tickets.

Provisions shall be made for expansion of water vending machines at stations, installing cameras in passenger and sub-city trains on selected main line routes on pilot basis for ensuring the safety of women, introducing onboard entertainment facility in selected Shatabdi trains, installing mobile charging points in general and sleeper class passenger coaches, increasing passenger facilities on stations, to convert 200 new stations into model stations, provide wi-fi facility at 'B' category stations alongwith increasing the number of passenger coaches in selected trains from 24 to 26. 10 Satellite railway terminals shall be developed in major cities.

Rs.8686 crores shall be spend upon functioning 1200 kms. of railway line during the year 2015-16 which is 84% more than the provisions year, 800 kms. of gauge conversion shall be carried out, 77 projects have been accorded sanction for doubling, tripling of 9,400 kms of rail route including electrification at the cost of

Rs.96,182 crores covering almost all the states. From north eastern states

Meghalaya also has been included on the rail map. A direct connectivity freight corridor upto Delhi shall be made available. Rail Budget plan has been increased from Rs.65,798 crores to Rs.1,00,011 crores in the year 2015-16 which is 52% increase. Present speed of 9 rail corridors shall be increased from 110 and 130 kms upto 160 and 200 kms per hour respectively. Feasibility study for high speed

Bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is in its final stage. In view of 362 rail projects lying pending, railways shall require Rs.1,58,616 crore. The expenditure of Indian Railways in comparison to its income is 91.8% . This time the operating ratio has been reduced to 88.5%. In place of all the unmanned level crossings across the country, over bridges and under bridges shall be constructed.

Funds must be provided for new rail line between the birth place of Gautam

Budha, Siddharth Nagar and Basti.

DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: I draw the attention of the hon. Minister of

Railways towards the following points of my Parliamentary Constituency and request for their completion: Stoppage of Intercity Express be given at the

Majhaulia railway station; Pashupatinath Express from Ruxaul to Delhi be made daily as it would provide much convenience to the commuters coming from Nepal to Delhi and to the people of Champaran - the karma bhumi of Mahatma Gandhi;

The rake point should be shifted from Betia to Kumarbagh as it would solve the problem of traffic jam in the Betia town as there is population at both sides of the

Betia railway station; the rake point at Motihari be shifted to Semra to solve the problem of traffic jam over there; a rake point be set up at Chhodadanon; a foot over bridge be constructed at the Adapur railway station; the Nakardei railway station be renovated; Chanpatia railway station be converted into a model railway station; a Superfast Express be introduced from Bapudham - the 'karma bhumi' of

Mahatma Gandhi to the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi; The Bapudham Express which runs twice a week from Muzaffarpur to Bandra should be run daily from

Bapudham station to Bandra; an intercity express be run from Raxaul to Hajipur via Sitamadhi; The Garibrath be run daily from Muzaffarpur to Anand Vihar.

SHRIMATI PRIYANKA SINGH RAWAT: I request that the following trains be given stoppages of 2 to 4 minutes at the Barabanki junction: Mau

Express; Kabirguru Express; Garib Rath Express; Delhi-Faijabad Express; Lohit

Express; Amarnath Express; Dibhrugarh Express; Jan Nayak Express; Janta Kisan

Express; Intercity Express.

SHREEMATI NEELAM SONKER: I admire and support the budget as it is leading the Railways to become self reliant in a planned way. I request our

Government to make the job of class IV employees permanent and remove the contract system from it. In order to connect my constituency with trains, I would like to submit these demands to Hon. Minister of Railways. I have demanded to start intercity express from Azamgarh to Lucknow and from Azamgarh to

Allahabad via Vindhyachal Dham during last session under Rule 377. This demand may be fulfilled. The Raibareli-Jaunpur express train should be extended upto Azamgarh-Mau. Coaches may be increased in Kaifiyat Express and its stoppage should be given at Ghaziabad and Fariha and it should be extented upto

Rohtak. New coaches and pantry car may also be added into it. Train No.

15025/15026 from Mau to Anand Vihar should be operated daily. Survey work should be conducted for new line from Varanasi to Lalganj and Azamgarh to

Gorakhpur via Mubarakpur. Electrification and doubling work should be done for

Onihar-Bhatni Rail section.

SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA: The creation of the Transport

Logistics Corporation of India is the greatest achievement of this budget. I deeply appreciate the effects of the Minister for focusing on the passengers amenities and emphasis on Women Safety. We request the Hon'ble Minister to kindly consider the formation of new zone for Andhra Pradesh i.e. Andhra Pradesh Zone, and to bring all our six ports under this zone. Araku is a tourist destination and is fast growing with many tourists from country and abroad visiting the place. It is a long cherished dream of Araku Valley People to have a Glass Train, which will boost the tourism for Araku.

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI SURESH PRABHU) replying said: I am glad to see each Member of this august House, have participated in the discussion. So let me thank each one of you for being so engaged in this process. Railway is a national asset. We need to develop railways in a way that is not politicized. Railway is something, which should run in a professional manner and to make that happen, each one of the Members has expressed his keen interest. All the investment decisions that Railways make must take into account the aspirations and hopes of so many people not just sitting here but the millions of people outside. To make it happen, it was necessary to have a type of consolidation for the Railways, which we tried to do in this Budget.

There have been announcements made a number of times on the same projects, we all raised expectations and hopes, but we could not fulfill them only because there were not enough matching grants to be provided. So, the budget should be an exercise in which we should put money where it is needed. We have to choose a process in which all the projects, which are necessary for the Railway interests and for the interests of the people who need them, could be undertaken.

To make sure that the train reaches the destination in desired time we thought that we must do doubling, as there is a huge demand for doubling. Doubling would mean no land acquisition. We can complete a project fast. So many demands of the people can be fulfilled very quickly. Railways will start earning revenue. If a new railway line costs about Rs. 10-11 crore a kilometer, a line for doubling may cost only half of that. Therefore, we can do it in a way and that is what we did in consolidation. I am very happy that this idea has been endorsed by all and we are going to work on it. Safety was another great consideration. So many people die in accidents. It is something, which is a serious matter. In this Budget we have provided highest amount of money as well as attention to safety. In addition to that, we have already entered into a partnership with RDSO, which is an Indian Railways organization, with ISRO and NRSA to find out how we could use Geo Spatial Technology to actually make it happen. Customer first has been our focus. We have provided so many things for customer services. Railways has to be a social, economic and political organization as well. We cannot ignore the reality that for so many people in the country, who may not be having enough purchasing power, railway is one of the big means of transportation. This is probably the means of transport of last resort for the poor. So we must keep intact the social, economic and political nature of character of the Railways to make sure that the Railways is really strong enough. The other was the issue of transparency. There is a lot of corruption in the

Railways. I am not denying that at all. All of us must work on it and make sure that we eliminate it. So, the first step I took from my side is that we delegated the powers to the General Managers which I used to enjoy as a Railway Minister.

We have taken into account the long –term and the short – term things, and commercial viability has already been put. We are going to increase the number of general coaches. Some people had raised a larger issue, about freight and fare issue. The rail network did not expand from what it was at the time of independence while the road network expanded rapidly as much higher than the investment that we made in the railway. So, the result is obvious. There is nothing in the point that in commercial we increase freight rate and that is why we lose traffic. So, to increase the freight we want to bring more cargo to rail from road, and for this we must invest in Railways, we must increase the network; and that is what we are trying to do.

We have taken a number of other measures. This time, we have really concentrated on the expenditure side of the Budget as well. We are trying to target the cost of energy. The electricity that the Railway consumes is being bought at a very high rate. Railways is the single-largest user of electricity and is paying the highest. Actually, it should be the other way round. Being the largest user of electricity we should get a discount but we were not getting that, and we are actually targeting that. I have already directed that they must work on it, and I have worked with the Ministry of Power to make sure that this is properly in the

Government domain and asked them to work on this. We have also tried to do cost

– cutting. We are also trying to work on outcome – oriented operation, advertising, and other sources of revenues. If the Railways do not cater to the need of huge movement of raw material from mines to the processing unit this at this time, we are not going to be making money; at the same time, all these activities will come to a standstill. Railways have a very unique financial position. If you increase your capacity to carry more, not necessarily in the same proportion the expenses go up.

As the volume increases, recovery of fixed cost is on a much higher volume.

Therefore, the profitability of the organization increases. So if you can actually make investment in railways in a significant way, automatically that would result in creation of more revenues and those revenues will be able to take it forward.

The other point raised here is about implementation. Each of the budget announcements that were made has been segregated into individual groups. I must thank the Chairman and the Members of the Railway Board for they have already taken upon themselves the responsibility of implementing each of these. I had mentioned regulation in may Budget Speech. Vice – Chairman of NITI Ayog; the

Secretary of DIDP earlier will work on this. There have been so many suggestions about new trains. We are already working on it. We are creating them on a very scientific basis. I am sure we will be able to certify the demands of the people keeping in mind the reality of Railway that exists today. There has been an issue about freight. People said that we increased freight rate which is going to affect people. We have actually not increased that freight rate alone. We have decreased it in so many cases. It is freight rationalization. This is not the first time it has been done. This time, We did not increase the freight rates but we only rationalized them which has resulted into some surplus for Railway.

The discussion was concluded.

All the Demands for Grants on Account (Railways), 2015-2016 voted in full.

All the Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways), 2014-2015 voted in full.

Resolutions were adopted.

APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) VOTE ON ACCOUNT BILL, 2015

The Bill was passed.

APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) BILL, 2015

The Bill was passed.

RESOLUTION

HON. SPEAKER: Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Shri

Subhash Chandra Bose both are venerated by the entire country. The contribution of these two great personalities to the freedom struggle of the country and their dedication is unparalleled. The statement given by the former Judge of Supreme

Court and former Chairman of Press Council of India Shri Markandey Katju is deplorable. This House unequivocally condemns the statement given by former

Judge of Supreme Court Shri Markandey Katju unanimously.

The House agreed. ANNOUNCEMENT BY SPEAKER

Re: Cancellation of the Sitting

HON. SPEAKER: The hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs has requested that he has received request from several members regarding cancellation of the sitting fixed for Saturday, the 14th March, 2015. If the entire

House agree, the sitting fixed for Saturday may be cancelled.

The House agreed.

ANOOP MISHRA Secretary General

© 2015 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at http://loksabha.nic.in.