LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS of DEBATES (Proceedings Other Than
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SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES
(Proceedings other than Questions & Answers)
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Thursday, November 29, 2007 / Agrahayana 8, 1929 (Saka)
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WELCOME TO PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM BAHRAIN
MR. SPEAKER: On behalf of the hon. Members of the House and on my own behalf, I have great pleasure in welcoming His Excellency Mr.
Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Dharani, Chairman of the Council of Representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the members of the Bahraini Parliamentary
Delegation who are on a visit to India as our honoured guests.
They arrived in India on Wednesday, 28 November, 2007. They are now seated in the Special Box. We wish them a very happy and fruitful stay in our country. Through them we covey our greetings and very best wishes to His Majesty the King, the Parliament, the Government and the friendly people of the Kingdom of Bahrain. SUBMISSION BY MEMBER
Re : The Need to expedite the issuance of the notification regarding
the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI
PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI) responding to the point raised by an hon.
Member, said: This Bill was passed by both the Houses of Parliament. The
Government is actively considering the matter to notify it at the earliest.
*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377
(i) SHRI GIRDHARI LAL BHARGAVA laid a statement regarding
need to upgrade Malviya Engineering College at Jaipur to the level of
Indian Institute of Technology.
(ii) SHRI GANESH SINGH laid a statement regarding need to
undertake repair works on N.H. 7 and N.H. 75 passing through Satna
Parliamentary Constituency in Madhya Pradesh. (iii) SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA laid a statement regarding need to
bring forth a legislation for regulating the functioning of travel
agencies in the country.
(iv) DR. RAM LAKHAN SINGH laid a statement regarding need to
undertake repair works of N.H. 92 between Gwalior and Bhogaon.
(v) PROF. MAHADEORAO SHIWANKAR laid a statement regarding
need to start production of coal in Besur and Nanded units of Western
Coal fields Limited in Maharashtra.
(vi) DR. K.S. MANOJ laid a statement regarding need to grant Swatantra
Sainik Samman Pension to the survivors of freedom struggle in
Kerala.
(vii) SHRI RAGHURAJ SINGH SHAKYA laid a statement regarding
need to ensure availability of fertilizers to farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
(viii) SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV laid a statement regarding need to
ensure required quota of job reservation to OBCs in Government
departments.
(ix) SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE laid a statement regarding need
to include Aurangabad under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission. (x) SHRI SUGRIB SINGH laid a statement regarding need to expedite
the construction of Khurda Road-Bolangir railway line in Orissa.
(xi) SHRI PRABODH PANDA laid a statement regarding need to fix
remunerative Minimum support Price for paddy and make
arrangements for procurement of paddy directly from the farmers.
(xii) SHRI MUNSHI RAM laid a statement regarding need to allot the
remaining land earmarked by Defence Ministry for residential purpose
to Ex-servicemen in Bijnore, Uttar Pradesh.
(xiii) SHRI P.C. THOMAS laid a statement regarding need to constitute a
separate fund for extending financial help to poor patients in the
country.
DEMANDS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS-(GENERAL)-2007-2008
AND
DEMANDS FOR EXCESS GRANTS-(GENERAL)-2005-2006-Contd.
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY: The Hon. Finance Minister has
sought authorization and has brought the Supplementary Demands for
Grants for 2007-2008 which includes 42 Grants and one Appropriation.
These proposals involve the net cash outgo aggregating to Rs.11,896.60 crore. The gross additional expenditure is met by saving of the
Ministries/Department, enhanced receipts and recoveries aggregating to
Rs.21,420.82 crore. Rs. 11,257 crore is short and it is met by the issue of the
PSU oil bonds.
We have been criticized for resurrection of Administrative Price
Mechanism. As you know, Spiralling fuel prices have been having a very adverse impact on our economy. If we do not provide any cushion to accommodate the price rise, then ultimately the poor people and the vulnerable section of our society would be affected. We cannot do away with the subsidiary regime overnight.
Large influx of funds, appreciation of ‘rupee’ and the high interest regime are decelerating the consumer segment. So, it is an imperative for this Government to revive the consumer segment to keep the momentum in our industrial output. Our forex reserves have touched 286 billion dollar. We have five billion dollar of forex reserve for local infrastructure development.
During the tenure of Mr. Chidambaramji, we have been registering the annual growth of our economy to the tune of 8.6 per cent, and in the current fiscal, it has gone to 9.2 per cent. We are already resorting to the dictum of faster and inclusive growth. Inclusive growth relates to distributive justice for fuelling our savings and investment rates, which would help to generate more employment, quality of education, quality of health etc. Our taxes are buoyant which attributed is to the robust growth of our economy and better tax compliance. Direct taxes has already registered an increase of 85 per cent, and the entire credit should go to the Finance Ministry because by providing better tax administration, the number of tax compliance has been growing up.
I would like to draw the attention of the Hon. Finance Minister to the fact that the Public distribution System has not been working to the manner it deserves. The entire PDS system in West Bengal has virtually collapsed.
Due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, the Food Supply Department of the State Government cannot maintain the required stock. The State
Government is purchasing APL rice at the rate of Rs.830 and when it goes to the distribution level it accounts Rs.890 per quintal. I would request the Hon.
Finance Minster and the Government also to look into this.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO: I rise to oppose the Budget.
Though growth rate of GDP is stated to have been achieved at 9.2 per cent in
2006-2007, the mainstay of our economy-agriculture is lagging behind. In this sector we are supposed to achieve a growth rate of 4.4 per cent but we have achieved only 2.3 per cent. This sector has been completely neglected and inflation has not been controlled in the country. Inflation has already crossed 5.4 per cent. Every consumer item, which the aam aadmi requires, is not available to him. Micro Finance is in a very poor shape. The starvation deaths are taking place. The migration is taking place. There are so many adversities attached to the agriculture during drought and flood and it is being affected badly. When the Government announces the procurement price of wheat at Rs.1,000 quintal, why could it not increase the procurement price of paddy at Rs.1,000? We have more rice eaters than those who consume wheat. The mainstay of agriculture is paddy. Therefore, to protect the farmers the credit policy should be properly done. The interest rates should be reduced to four percent. The farmers are committing suicides. This is a matter of concern. This needs to be taken into account very seriously. As per the last Economic Survey report, it has been seen that the downfall in the mining sector has affected the revenue earnings. It has to be looked into.
SHRI SUDHANGSHU SEAL: Our GDP growth is nearly 10 per cent. But in agricultural sector we are not getting the desired result. 70 per cent of our population lives on rural sectors. We can upgrade rural sector, agriculture sector, if the Government is serious to introduce certain measures. We need to have cold storage facilities in all the districts and villages, which we do not have. There is a very big market for our products – domestically as well as globally. Infrastructure facilities should be provided to export our products. We should have our own refrigerated containers for export of our products. Moreover, we can have a plenty of value added products from our produce. It requires more and more numbers of food processing units to be set up and if some help and cooperation is extended to these units there will be tremendous possibility of export. Excise Duty on hand tools be reduced to make them accessible to the artisans, carpenters and car-repairing mechanics so that they may excel in their trade and become able to give good products. This rural sector gets the facilities through rural banks. The rural banks are not getting any facility if you compare them with the nationalized banks. This factor should also be looked into.
SHRI SHAILENDRA KUMAR: This is a very critical situation that
83 crore and 63 Lac people in the country do not have even Rs.20 only per day to sustain their lives. We need to pay special attention towards the poor.
It is deplorable that we haven’t been able to achieve cent percent literacy in the country. We have to make more efforts to bring down infant mortality rate. Like-wise we have to make arrangement to make drinking water available for all. Even today the SC/ST colonies and slums are without lights. The Government have to ensure power security. We are tapping our energy sources indiscriminately which need to be paid attention to. UPA
Government is committed to eradicate poverty from the country within a period of 5 years. However, what we find is that poor is becoming poorer.
Rampant tax evasion throughout the country is causing great loss to the revenue. A larger section of the society is still deprived of the fruits of development. Hence, I request the hon. Finance Minister to pay special attention towards rural areas, particularly agriculture sector. The Country can progress only if the things of daily use are provided to the people belong to the SCs/STs, Minority Community and slum dwellers thereby improving their standard of living.
SHRIMATI JHANSI LAKSHMI BOTCHA supporting the
Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2007-08, said: That the achievements of the UPA Government are noteworthy. Direct tax collections has recorded a growth of over 43.9 per cent from 1st April, 2007 to 15th
November, 2007. As on 2nd November, 2007, India’s exports increased by
19 per cent. All these are indicators for the higher economic growth. Under the Indira Awas Yojana due to increase in the price of raw materials the
Government is requested to increase the budget accordingly. The list of works under NREGP needs to be increased. The duration of NREGP has to be extended to 150 days. Under the NREGP, if any donor wants to give financial assistance it should be welcomed and encouraged. We should create permanent infrastructure like primary health centres under the Rural
Health Mission. Mid-day meal should be provided to the school going children up to 10th class. Permanent kitchen building and other infrastructure can be created under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. There are Vidya volunteers who are coming forward to teach students. They should be encouraged vigorously. There is a need to widen the scope of vocational education.
Additional allocation under the SSA could be stepped up. Regarding the agriculture sector, cost of the portable oil engines needs to be reduced.
Making of vermicompost requires low investment and gives high returns.
Vermicompost can be utilised in horticulture, pisciculture and other agriculture. I have made a request to open an Institute of Vector Borne
Diseases Control and Research at Vizianagaram. I would once again urge upon the Government to kindly consider setting up that centre in the State of
Andhra Pradesh as it will be useful to the adjacent States also.
DR. RAMKRISHNA KUSMARIA: This Government has failed to provide all the essential facilities to the common people. Today, the common man is worst hit by the price rise and their life has become very difficult. We had visualized Ram Raj and wanted the Government to take care of the public welfare. However, it is painful to see that excessive rainfall, floods and the drought are causing havoc. We have had no rainfall for the last four years in our area. It has caused famine there. There is mass exodus from this area. Despite that no Central team was sent there to assess the situation. Our hon. Chief Minister is extending all the help with his limited resources. But our Agriculture Minister has never bothered to visit that area. The situation is very bad there. There are no means of irrigation. As such, I would request to waive off the loans against the farmers. We fail to understand the policy being pursued by the Government to eradicate poverty. This is an agricultural country. Hence, the agriculture requires special attention. Lot of irregularities are being committed under the Employment Guarantee
Programme by the corrupt officials. It is a matter of regret that no further expansion was made in the network of BSNL after the fall of our
Government. The pilferage worth crores of rupees is taking place in the godowns of Bhopal Telecom Circle. We find no provision for the grants for bridging the gap between the rich and the poor. We have the world famous tourist places like Khajurao and Orchha. The people would get employment if the tourism is accorded a status of an industry. The condition of roads is bad there. My Parliamentary Constituency is facing a severe drought situation for the last four years Government should waive off loans and the electricity dues of the farmers. Besides, the fodder for cattle has to be made available. The potable water need to be transported over there to quench the thrust of the people. We have made repeated requests to pay special attention to our problems and sufferings.
SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA: All of us know that the country is run from the tax revenues collections of the country. The Government revises the income tax rate from time to time. The Government frames the policy keeping in mind the objective of hiking the rate of income tax. The ordeal through which the tax payers have to undergo while they make calculations and hire chartered accountants and lawyers to file the tax returns,is not worth mentioning. I would like to give a suggestion to the
Hon’ble Minister of Finance that the Government should formulate a scheme under which the tax payers could included as the Member on any
Government Committee formed at state level as a token of respect to taxpayers. Highest tax payer should be honoured on the eves of 15th August and Republic Day celebration so as to make them the source of inspiration for the rest of countrymen. In case of death of income tax payee or injury, the Government should take the responsibility of providing social security.
They should also be given special medical facilities. I also request the
Government to formulate a scheme which pave the way for every citizen to make voluntary contribution in the development of the country. SHRI B. MAHTAB: We are not opposed to the increasing external debt of our country for getting infrastructure development. But the actual spending in a time-bound manner is what is required and transparency.
Today there is a mismatch between the skills of a young population and the nature of jobs that is available, and that is required to be filled up. I understand that there is a proposal to spend around Rs.31,000 crore for skill development. We will be happy if the Finance Minister while replying to the
Supplementary Demands for Grants can throw some light on this project. It is time to stop talking about two Indias, which we invariably hear – one is
Urban India and the other is the Rural Bharat. The idea of faster economic growth in urban India rather than in rural India needs to be corrected.
Services, Manufacturing, utilities and construction activities are new developments which are taking place. Accordingly, the budgetary provisions also should be made for them. Only 15 per cent of the urban households have drinking water, electricity and latrines in their premises. Therefore, there is a need to look into this aspect as it is of very serious concern. In the area of rural electrification only six per cent of the targeted below poverty line, household have been electrified. Lack of transparency, accountability and authenticity of data are the problems that plague Bharat Nirman initiative. Restriction on spending will impact industry and check the pace of growth. There is a need to look into the high interest rates. In rural and semi- urban areas, cooking gas is not being supplied to due to scaling down of import of cooking gas. I would request the Government to reconsider it.
These amenities should be provided as per demand.
SHRI ALOK KUMAR MEHTA: The country has definitely made remarkable development under the schemes like Bharat Nirman Yojana,
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-day Meal, Total Sanitation Drive, Sampoorn
Rozgar Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana, Jawahar Lal Nehru Shahri Vikas
Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana etc. and continue to have a sustainable development trend. Hence, I would like to congragulate and thank our hon. Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaran, the Prime Minister of the country, Shri Manmohan Singhji, Chairperson of the UPA, Shrimati
Sonia Gandhi and our leader, Shri Lalu Prasadji for these achievements.
However, I want the allocation for the agriculture to be further enhanced.
The hon. Finance Minister need to pay attention towards the fact that the fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products worth Rs. 50,000 perish in want of proper processing and basic infrastructure. Hence, the Government is required to make arrangement for their processing and ensure their value addition. Today, the milk is being adulterated which should be looked into and checked. The schemes are required to be decentralized to the rural areas to percolate the benefits of growth rate. We have to strengthen our
Cooperative Societies and Self-help Groups and empower them financially.
The Co-operative institutions should be encouraged and given all sorts of help. I would like to say a few things about Bihar. Large scale irregularities are being committed while preparing the BPL List throughout the country but Bihar is leading in committing such irregularities. The money granted under Indira Awas Yojna has not been utilized. The work of
Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Programme has not yet been started in district Samastipur. I urge that Indo-Nepal High Dam Project should be started.
SHRI K. FRANCIS GEORGE: I rise to support the Supplementary
Demands for Grants (General). I would just like to invite the attention of the
Hon. Finance Minister to two aspects. The National Savings Scheme has been very much popular in our country. But interest rates have not been revised since 13.02.2006 on this scheme. This Scheme has no longer been popular and there has been massive withdrawal from the Post Offices under this Scheme. So, this would adversely affect the Plan expenditure of the
State. I would request the Hon. Finance Minister to pay attention towards this. The exemption given to the Cooperative Banks from paying tax but this has been withdrawn in the Budget, 2006-07. This has seriously affected the cooperative sector. The Hon. Finance Minister had announced that a part of our foreign exchange reserves would be used to fund infrastructure. Months after that announcement, it seems that nothing has been done on that point.
So, I would request the Hon. Finance Minster to make better use of our foreign exchange reserves for the development of our infrastructure and also to make a favourable announcement about the cooperative sector.
SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN: I want to bring to the kind notice of our Hon. Finance Minister the pathetic situation of hosiery industries and garment industries in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu. Nearly 4.50 lakh employees are engaged in hosiery manufacturing units. Due to decrease in dollar rate, the industry is on the verge of collapse. Now, the exports have declined to 18.23 per cent. The industry players need intervention of our Government’s support to solve the current crisis. Moreover, they want the introduction of dual Exchange Rate System to pave way to get a favourable rate in export trade and also interest rate to be reduced to six per cent. I would request the
Hon. Finance Minister to intervene to save the hosiery industry and save the life of nearly five to six lakh employees serving in Tirupur. SHRI HARIBAHU RATHOD: The Government plans, the discussion is held here and approval is given, this system has been going on for years but there seems to be nothing in this for the common man, the
SCs/STs, Backwards and the denotified nomadic tribes living in the remote and rural areas of the country. There are around 15 crore denotified nomadic tribes in the country. Do the Government have any plan for them and has any provision been made as yet for them? This Government has completed around 3½ years but we have not yet seen any change. Every Hon. Member is given two crore rupees per annum under MPLAD at present. We have urged many times to increase it upto 5 crore rupees but the Government has not yet paid any attention towards it. The Government formulates many schemes to provide bread, clothes, houses, education and medical facilities to the poor. I think that instead of these small schemes every poor person should be given 1500 rupees per month. This way poverty can be alleviated from this country.
SHRI VIRENDRA KUMAR: Due to the difference in the income slabs of the rural and urban people, the gap has been widening in social, economic and educational fields of the country. The influence of urbanites is increasing in the jobs and major industries. The Government should increase the number of rural employment oriented small and cottage industries to reduce this inequality. Several states of the country have received comparatively less rain fall over 3-4 years which has created the problem of livelihood and employment before the farmers. I request the Government to launch employment oriented programmes at such places where the farmers are facing problems by providing special package. The area development fund under the MPLAD scheme should also be enhanced to atleast five crore rupees and funds should be allocated for the construction of the building for
Kendriya Vidayalaya No.3 at Sagar.
PROF. M. RAMADASS: The Indian economy is moving at the rate of 9.2 per cent. Therefore, we must compliment the Government for this pragmatic approach. I should also compliment the Hon. Finance Minister for taking timely monitory measures by making use of the qualitative restrictions on the money supply. But when I go into the various break-ups of the expenditure, I can say a few words about each one of them. In the case of Agriculture, the Minister is allocating a total amount of rs.867.94 crore which, I think, would not be sufficient to meet the present challenges faced by the Indian agriculture. Therefore, there should have been a greater amount. What is more worrying is that for all the seven Union Territories in
India the Hon. Finance Minister has allocated only Rs. one crore. For a territory like Puducherry and for the problems that we face in that territory, even this Rs. one crore may not be sufficient. Therefore, the Hon. Finance
Minster must do something about it. I would request the Hon. Minster to set up a Chair on Dr. Ambedkar and a Chair on Singaravelar in the Puducherry
Central University. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has evolved a new scheme for the construction of schools for the Scheduled
Caste boys and girls. This scheme must find enough or adequate financial resources from the Government. I would like to request the Hon. Finance
Minster to recognize Puducherry as a B 1 city. On the ground that Panaji and
Port Blair have already been recognized, this status should be given to
Puducherry also.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY: When we are discussing these Demands, it gives us an opportunity to discuss the economic condition of the country. Strategic intervention is needed to stop this urban-rural divide. Now, people are rushing to urban areas because the rural economy is coming down. They are not getting employment in rural areas. The entire agriculture sector is neglected by the Government. Unless we promote agriculture more as a business, we cannot hope to include our marginalized farmers in the main stream economic development of the country. I must also draw the attention of the Hon. Finance Minister that our external debt is rising. There is a regional imbalance in this country. My State, Orissa is facing a severe economic crisis, has requested for the waiver of some loan but the Central Government is not considering it. Mineral resource belongs to the Centre and the States have no say in that. State Governments are not getting adequate money from the Finance Commission and also from the
Centre through the Budget. The Hon. Finance Minister should consider the economic condition of the States, and the poor State like Orissa should be provided with adequate funds. I also would like to make request to the Hon.
Finance Minister that the waiver of debt sought by the Orissa Government should be considered favourably.
SHRI SUKDEO PASWAN : I thank for granting me permission to speak on the Demands for Supplementary Grants. Arbitrary prices are taken from farmers for supply of fertilizers like Pottash and Urea. I am supplying full supply of fertilizers to Bihar. I would like to request Deputy Speaker,
Government of India that full Fertiliser Supply should be ensured at reasonable price to farmers of our country. Farmers are not receiving the price of their produce of paddy(rice) as decided by Government. The Jute prices of 1300 rupees and 1500 rupees per quintal has been reduced to 650 to 700 rupees per quintal. In such a situation it becomes difficult for farmers to exist as they do their farming by taking debt from Kisan Bank as they become unable to repay the amount. SC/ST are still backwards in the education. Education in vidalayas should be according to CBSE curriculum.
Somewhere Rs. One crore and some two crores of funds are allocated to
MPs for regional development while to MLA this amount is two crores. So for the backward areas five crore should be allocated.
SHRI HARIBHAU JAWALE: I put forth my 5-6 demands before the hon. Finance Minister. I represent the Jalgaon Parliamentary
Constituency of Maharashtra. Wheat cultivation is undertaken in at least 60 thousand hectares of land there but Jalgaon district is not included in the
National Food Security Mission. I, therefore, request to include Jalgaon district in the said Mission. Jalgaon district supplies the maximum quantum of banana all over the country. It is requested that banana crop should be included under the crop insurance scheme launched by the Government. It is also requested that agro-based industries should be set up in rural areas. A food processing industry should be set up in Jalgaon district as has been demanded. A banana park should also be set up there. Agro based industries will also be helpful in providing jobs to the educated unemployed. There is short supply of chemical fertilizers all over the country and the water soluble fertilizers which we are importing are available all over the country. There is no subsidy on them. The farmers are unable to purchase these fertilizers as they are costlier. Therefore, subsidy should also be provided on these fertilizers. The rate of GDP is 9 per cent but it is less than 2.5 per cent in agriculture sector and that should be increased. If the Government extends its full support to the farmers of the country then we can definitely move forward towards the Bharat Nirman.
SHRI HANSRAJ G. AHIR : Farmers are rich only when they get price of their agricultural produce as per the cost price of their crops.
Government buys wheat rice etc foodgrains from the market under PDS system. Government should pay profitable margin to the farmer for their other crops as well. This will enhance investment in agriculture areas and in future we would be able to ensure food. Due to price rise, Government projects are suffering and common man is unable to fulfill his house construction material requirements. I would like to make a demand from the
Government to take immediately effective steps to control the price of cement and iron material. Government has presented Demands for 33290.89 crores by Supplementary Demands for Grants. Government has given tax relief to North-eastern States and earthquake ridden areas as Bhuj. Our
Vidarbha is still undeveloped and tribal dominated areas. This is akoot mine material there but for this tax-relief should be given to establish new industries with the help of using this material. SHRI GANESH SINGH : Economic Growth rate of the country is being highlighted, but till I see improvement in the economic condition of all the sections of society I will consider this economic growth to be the reason causing increasing economic inequality. A large section of the population is struggling for livelihood and housing. The area under irrigation has gone up a little, but the condition of farmers specially small and marginal farmers is worsening and debt burden is also increasing. The farmers are committing suicide. Earlier approximately 70% population use to depend upon agriculture but now this percentage is also decreasing. Inflation is quite high and unemployment is also increasing. The NDA Government was successful in generating one crore jobs per year. However, the UPA Government is only sighting the example of Economic Guarantee Scheme, but the fact is this that the people are not getting even minimum wages. People from rural areas are migrating because of lack of basic amenities. As a result of this population is increasing in cities and thereby leading to widening inequality.
The need of the hour is to provide facilities for technical education in rural areas.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM) replying said: The bulk of the money that we are asking form Parliament, goes to the States, by way of a cash transfers, as Grants-in-Aid and as additional funds. Therefore, what we are doing now is in order to help the
States fulfill the many goals and targets that they have set for themselves.
But there are some unexpected obligations that we have to assume. In order to support the Market Stabilization Scheme, we have increased the limit substantially, and that entails an additional interest liability of Rs.4,500 crore. We have reimbursed losses of the National Agricultural Marketing
Federation (NAFED) for Rs.200 crore. I had announced the Aam Aadmi
Beema Yojna. I have set apart money for that Yojna and we are transferring
Rs.1,500 crore for creating a Corpus Fund for implementing it. Likewise, I had offered an interest free loan of Rs.2.5 crore to every I.T.I. The money is again being transferred so that 300 I.T.Is can get upgrade this year. As part of our commitment to revitalize Public Sector Corporations, providing
Rs.562.94 crore for the restructuring plan of Hindustan Copper Limited. We are giving a remunerative price to the farmers. The UPA Government has consciously decided to give higher prices to our farmers. Keeping in view of the above, now, for the next year, we have announced the MSP of Rs.1,000 per quintal for wheat. It is Rs.775 per quintal this year for paddy. We intend to take a number of new initiatives for the agricultural sector. Some of the new initiatives are: Research priorities will shift towards evolving a cropping system to suit agro-climatic conditions and towards enhancing yield potential in rain-fed areas. Public expenditure on agricultural research will increase from 0.7 per cent of the agricultural GDP to one per cent during the Eleventh Plan Period. In irrigation focus will be to complete the ongoing projects by increasing allocation under AIBP. The new National
Rain fed Authority will focus on the problems and potentials of the rain fed areas. If we get full value for that money, the entire landscape of agriculture in this county will change. We have launched the new Skill Development
Initiative. It is a major programme. Under this programme we expect to train one million young people in the Eleventh Plan period. The Eleventh Plan period will also have a flood management programme and adequate money will be allocated for flood management.
As regards converting of barren or wasteland to agricultural land, a total of 187.73 lakh hectares have now been made cultivable land. Growth rate of agriculture is still very sluggish. This year, it is likely to touch 4 per cent, but the average will be 3.2 per cent. Massive investment has to take place to increase the same. But the real investment that will help is investment in irrigation. Despite huge crude prices, we have still kept the price to the consumers at a lower level. There was some complaint about
LPG connections. Actually, the connections are increasing. There is no excise duty on agricultural hand-tools. Bharat Nirman is an ambitious and a serious programme. It is a target-based programme. Under this programme, irrigation facilities, drinking water, roads, electricity connection, telephone connections and other facilities are being increased in rural areas every year.
States are not starved of cash but states must spend money efficiently.
Exporters are facing problems as a result of the rupee appreciation. In many ways, the appreciation of rupee reflects the strength of our economy.
Nevertheless, the sharp appreciation of the rupee over the last several months has put pressure on the export sectors, particularly those with low import intensity such as textiles, handicrafts, leather and marine products.
Towards this end, government had offered two packages of support to exporters from this financial year. The July, 2007 package included such as accelerated reimbursement of Terminal Excise Duty, Upward revision of duty drawback, Service tax for exports etc. In October, 2007 the
Government offered a second package of support and this included such as provisions to pay interest on EEFC accounts of exporters, the period for interest subvention on pre-shipment and post-shipment, the coverage under
Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana etc.
The export industry and industry associations have met the Prime
Minister, my colleague the Commerce Minister and me. I have also had extensive meetings with them. Based on these meetings, we are now offering the support.
All the Supplementary Demand for Grants were voted in full.
The Demands for Excess Grants were voted in full.
APPROPRIATION (NO.4) BILL, 2007
The Bill was passed
APPROPRIATION (NO.5) BILL, 2007
The Bill was passed
DEMANDS FOR SUPPLEMENTAYR GRANTS-RAILWAYS-2007-08
AND
RESOLUTION RE: APPROVAL OF SIXTH REPORT OF
RAILWAY CONVENTION COMMITTEE (2004)
SHRI LAXMINARAYAN PANDEY: It is true that the Railway in recent past has progressed tremendously and we are all happy with the scenario of the Railways presented here. However, much is yet to be done.
Even today, the Railway badly needs good management, the lack of which is undoing all the good work done by the Minister. You are going to introduce a good scheme. There shall be a freight corridor in the west and also in the east. However, one wonders upon the amount to be spent on this scheme and the way it has been managed. I want to know whether some sort of cooperation is being taken from Japan in this regard. Previously the Railway
Minister had made an announcement regarding modernization of the
Railway Stations. Has he fixed some time frame of a year or two or, may be, in the next five year plan? I hope, he would clarify it in his reply. Some time back Laluji had inaugurated operation of trains after gauge conversion of
Ratlam-Neemuch line in my constituency. At that time he had made an announcement regarding gauge conversion from Ratlam to Akola. Only then we can link up with South India. Some trains have been earmarked for upgradation. Some super fast trains have been introduced and super fast charges are also being levied. However, a number of such trains stop at every station. The glaring example is the super fast train from Indore to
Nizamuddin. In view of the fact that there is a temple of Pashupathi Nath Ji at Mandsor and a major shrine at Bandra, trains should be provided stoppages at these places. SHRI JAI PRAKASH: I request investigation into the procurement of cranes in the recent past. I have come to know through the Railway
Officers that the cranes are not working properly. Substandard materials are not going to help the Railways. Jind Railway Junction lies in between Delhi to Bhatinda track. It has National Highway No.71. A Railway over bridge is needed at this place. Uchana is a religious place. A Railway over bridge should be constructed at this place too. There are 6-7 villages in Khedi
Masania. There too, the unmanned crossing needs to be converted into a manned one. A halt is essential in Sunderpur village lying in between Jind to
Panipat line. As per the assurance of the Railways, a building and a Railway platform have of course been constructed but the trains do not stop there. Let the trains be provided stoppages at that place. I also demand that the track laying work from Jind to Sonipat should be finished at the earliest. Half of the sanctioned money has been provided by the State Government for construction of Rewari to Rohtak line via Jhajjar. I also request a Railway line from Hansi to Rohtak. In this case too, if the centre and the Railway
Ministry express there will, Haryana State Government is prepared to incur half of the expenditure. One more train going from Delhi to Rohtak should be extended upto Jind. This will facilitate the daily passengers of the adjoining NCR area. I also request introduction of new train from Jind to Beas. The Jind – Bhatinda Section is still in need of electrification. There is a major pilgrimage of the Jains at Badoda lying in between Jind and
Uchiana. This place has witnessed a number of eminent sages. I shall request the Government to provide a halt at this place.
SHRI N.N. KRISHNADAS: I would like to know from the hon.
Minister whether any time limit has been fixed for completing the on-going projects. This information is required because several ROBs are under construction for the past many years, particularly in my State of Kerala. In my constituency, ROBs LC-49, 50 and 159 are there. More than twenty
ROBs are under construction in the State for the last ten years. The doubling of Shoranur-Mangalore railway line was started in 1996, under Palakkad
Division of Southern Railway. Even after the completion of twelve years, the construction is still going on. The hon. Minister, Shri Lalu Prasad, had assured on the floor of the House that a most modern coach factory will be provided in Kerala. I would like to know from the Ministry of Railways about the steps taken so far to make it a reality.
I would like to make my third point regarding the modernization of the railway stations. I would like to know how many railway stations have been taken up and how many railway stations have stared its work for the modernization, according to the provisions in the current Budget.
The fourth point is regarding the on-going electrification projects.
From Shoranur junction to Mangalore, the electrification project has not yet been taken up. So, I would urge upon the Ministry of Railways that in the coming Budget the electrification project may be taken up. Regarding gauge conversion, I would say that it is very important to fulfil the on-going project of gauge conversion from Pollachi to Palghat. There is a very long-pending demand of Kerala regarding setting up of a new Railway Zone centralized in
Kerala. With part of Konkan Railway area, a new zone be incorporated with
Trivandrum Division, Salem Division, Palaghat Division. We can set up a new zone centralized at Salem. Expansion of the railway facility to new areas is more important. Surveys in respect of a proposal for the same are over. Only the taking up of the project is awaited. New railway line construction from Kollangodu to Trichur should be taken up as it will connect the most important pilgrim centers of South India like Guruvayoor,
Palani, Madurai. There is also a very long pending demand. It is about the
Nilambur-Nanjangoodu line. At Shoranur Junction a triangular station or a bulb station, whatever it may be, should be made out. In between
Coimbatore and Kochin, an inter-city express should be introduced very shortly. There is a proposal about the High Speed Passenger Corridor from
Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore. I would urge upon the Government to make it a reality very soon.
DR. PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI: Khurda-Bolangir railway line was sanctioned by the Railway department for quick implementation. In spite of our regular demand the money which has been placed in railway budget is not sufficient enough due to which the work has been badly delayed. If Khordha-Bolangir railway line is finished in a quicker time, then west will join East, South will join west; hence, a better communication will start a new age in Orissa. Therefore, suitable steps may be initiated to place more money in this project. My second submission is for the implementation of railway over bridges near, "BIR SURENDRA SAI LEVEL CROSSING" and " SAHID NAGAR LEVEL CROSSING". Adequate funds may be provided for the construction of these over bridges immediately.
SHRI SHAILENDRA KUMAR: Our senior citizens immediately be provided with concessions in Tatkal reservation scheme. In order to complete the projects of railways, participation of private sector is being sought, and 19 cities have been selected for this purpose. Allahabad also be included in it. Railway stations of world standard will be constructed in 15 cities of the country. It will be nice if Allahabad is also included in the said list of stations. The problem of traffic jams can be resolved if a bridge can be built at the railway crossings namely Monohari, Bharwari, Sirathu and
Khaga which comes under my parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh and which connect the G T Road and are on the main road. The construction of such a bridge will act as a link between the States Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh besides solving the problem of road-jam. About Rs. 6 crores has been granted under the Rashtriya Samvikas Yojana for the construction of over bridge at Bharwari Railway crossing. The construction of the said bridge will add to the glory of the headquarters and also it will shorten the distance between the two states. Stoppage should be given to main trains at
Sirathu and Bharwari stations which will benefit the entire foreign tourists visiting here. There is a need to pay attention towards maintaining punctuality of the time-schedule of the trains running between Mugalsarai and Delhi especially Prayagraj Express. The line between Allahabad and
Lucknow be doubled and electric trains be introduced on this track.
SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV: The hon’ble Minister of Railways has invested Rs. five thousand crores in various projects of Bihar. However, due to the non-cooperation of the State Government and by not making land available there. Approximately more than a year has passed which will result in the cost escalation and loss of Rs. one thousand crore in respect of the amount allocated by the Central Government. Through you I would like to make a demand to the Prime Minister and the Minister to positively enact a law in this regard that in regard to projects of the Union Government if the need arises for the acquisition of the land, the union government should be capable enough to implement its own projects by acquiring land for giving concrete shape to its projects.
My State is a backward one. There is penury and unemployment prevailing there. Efforts are being made to put a spoke on the wheel of progress of Bihar. Politics should not be done in the matter of development.
Not only in railway projects but also in regard to various other projects of the union Government, the State Government is adopting an attitude of non- cooperation.
The railway line between Mugalsarai and Jhajha is a very important one. Load on this track has increased so much due to the running of passenger trains, express trains and goods trains. Till the time a third line is provided there, the common people will not get the amenities in this regard.
A third line between Mugalsarai and Jhajha be constructed immediately. A section of a separate division be set up in Bhagalpur so that people could be benefited. The machine factories in Muzaffarpur and Mokama be taken under the rail Ministry so that those sick units could be revived and the people working in those units could earn their livelihood. The factory in
Jamalpur be modernised and expanded.
The survey work regarding the new railway line from Sitamarhi-
Bhittah crossing to Jayanagar-Ladhniyan-Loukaha-Loukahi-Nrimali has been completed. Required funds have not been provided for laying the new railway line quickly. My request is that funds be allocated for this significant project for which a survey had been conducted by them so that the dreams of the people belonging there could be fulfilled. The gauge conversion work relating to Sakati-Jhanjharpur-Nirmali line and the line between Jhanjharpur and Laukaha Bazar be completed immediately. Doubling of Patna-Gaya line be undertaken. Dhanbad division is in my constituency. Railway staff reside there in large numbers. The quarters, water facility, roads are in a very bad shape there. The said condition be improved.
A railway crossing be built immediately at Itavarpur in my constituency. More attention should be paid towards catering services and sanitation in trains. There is a need to construct a foot bridge beside, the Chiriyatand bridge. A Garib rath between Jayanagar to Delhi via Patna be introduced.
SHRI A.K.S. VIJAYAN : More than one year back introduction of
Thiruvaroor-Chennai express train was announced. The train is yet to be introduced. I urge upon the hon. Minister, to operationalise it. The Mysore train originating from Mayiladuthurai these days should be made to depart from Nagapattinam. Thiruvaroor-Nagore-Velankanni railway line should be completed expeditiously. The gauge conversion work up to
Thiruthuraipoondi and also Nagapattinam to Velankanni, Thirukuvalai to
Ettukudi may be started soon. To provide better rail connectivity in the
Cauvery Delta region, the linking of Mayiladuthurai with Hiruthuraipoondi,
Muthupet, Aranthangi and Karaikudi must be taken up. I urge upon the
Ministry of Railways to allot funds for the same. Thiruthuraipoondi,
Agasthiampalli gauge conversion work may also be taken up. There was just an announcement about the laying of railway lines between
Needamangalam, Mannargudi and Pattukkotai. I would like to request you to complete survey work and commence this project soon. Gauge conversion work may be completed soon linking Thiruvarur with Nagapattinam.
Electrification of railway line between Tiruchirappalli and Nagore may be taken up. Handing over to Palghat Division a chunk of railway line linking
Pollachi may be rescinded.
SHRI GANESH SINGH: There are five or six categories of railway stations in the country but development is being carried out only in respect of first and second categories of railway stations. The condition of the railway stations falling under the remaining categories is very bad. There is lack of drinking water, electricity, foot over-bridge, platform and ticket counters.
Outdated coaches are being attached to the super fast trains, which, if not replaced, may result in major accidents anytime. The bed-rolls given in trains give out foul smell as if they were never washed. Low quality break- fast and lunch is given in trains. Rats, cockroaches and bugs can be generally seen in the bogies. I had submitted written complaints in respect of several such ailments but no improvement could be brought about.
The Central Railways in the State of Madhya Pradesh has been particularly neglected. Nothing has been given to that area for the last three years whereas the railways are getting annually the benefit being accrued from the cement trade amounting to Rs. seven thousand crores from my Lok
Sabha constituency. In my area, at several places there is a need to extend the height and length of the railway platforms, set up waiting rooms, construct railway foot over- bridges and to make drinking water arrangements. The timings of the
Mahakoushal Express originating from Nizamuddin and the train between
Rewa to New Delhi be altered to ensure that the latter reaches Delhi by 9 o’ clock in the morning. The Rajkot Express which goes up to Katni should be extended up to Satana and the Mahakoushal Express from Hazarat
Nizamuddin to Jabalpur should be extended up to Satana. A new shuttle train be introduced from Maihar to Chitrakut Dham Karvi. Electrification of railway lines from Katni to Satana, Manikpur, Allahabad; from Satana to
Rewa, from Manikpur to Madasin be carried out. Doubling of railway lines between Manikpur to Madasin, Satana to Rewa be carried out. Reservation quota may be provided in the first class, A/C and slipper bogies of all the trains having a stoppage at the Satana railway station. Unutilized land is lying at both sides of the Satana railway station. I would like that the said land may be provided for commercial use. Adequate source of drinking water is not available at railway stations. The water of Satana River may be utilized for this purpose. The entrance to the Satana railway station is narrow, it may be extended and a new platform be set up on the
Rajendranagar side and it may be made operational immediately. The quality of catering service at the Satana railway station requires to be urgently improved. New trains be introduced from Satana to Mumbai, from Rewa to
Indore and for South to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kanyakumari.
The rooms of the employees at the Satana railway colony is in a dilapidated condition. There are problems in respect of proper roads, water, light etc. As such, renovation of this colony is required for the sake of the employees.
I urge upon the hon’ble Railway Minister that provision may be made in the budget through the Demands for Grants to solve the problems pointed out by me.
SHRI SANTASRI CHATTERJEE: The surplus land of the
Railways may be judiciously used to fetch more revenue. Land may be released to Konnagore Bazar Rail Coop. Society. The problems of Railway hawkers in West Bengal merit immediate attention of the authorities. A pilot project for their rehabilitation may be chalked out. Dankuni Railway station be developed as a model station expeditiously. Special attention be paid to the Railway stations of Bandel, Sheoraphati, Serampore, etc in the Eastern
Railway. Commuters services in Howrah and Sealdah stations be improved.
Passengers amenities be improved. Regularity be ensured for all trains particularly of Mail, Express and Super fast trains. Some ROB projects viz. Kamarkundu, Mogra, Rishra, Baidyabati, Uttarpara in the Eastern Railway be taken up on priority basis. Frequency of services in the Howrah-Amta line be increased, road at the Bargachia level crossing be constructed. Amta and Bagnan Railway stations in the South Eastern Railway be connected.
Howrah-Seakhara-Champadanga Railway line via Furfurah be constructed.
Meetings of Zonal Users’ Committees be held regularly.
SHRI BHANWAR SINGH DANGAWAS: New railway line be laid between Pushkar (Ajmer) to Merta city so that the lacs of people visiting the annual fair of Dargah in Ajmer and the animal fair in Pushkar could be benefited. If this line is laid then the distance between Bikaner and Jodhpur to Ajmer could be shortened by several kilometers and this region will directly be connected to western and southern India and this will also give boost to the trade of agriculture produce. Hence, keeping in view the above mentioned facts this line should certainly be sanctioned in the next budget.
SHRI RAGHUNATH JHA: I would like to draw the attention towards some of the demands of my State Bihar.
The gauge conversion work of small gauge line from Darbhanga
Narkatiyaganj via Sitamarhi be completed within stipulated time period. The work of Sitamarhi-Muzzafarpur railway line and Hazipur, Vaishali, Sugouli railway line be expedited. The construction of 32 ROBs sanctioned by the department, be completed. The stations at Raxaul, Sugouli, Betia, and
Narkatiyaganj be modernised. Five additional boggies be attached to the passenger train no. 520 running between Gorakhpur- Narkatiyaganj to
Sonepur. Doubling of Motihari-Betia-Narkatiyaganj-Gorakhpur line be done.
SHRI MITRASEN YADAV: Several important projects are pending before the Railway Department. Hence, it would have been better if a review regarding them was presented before the House. The improvement in the functioning of the staff and officers of railways would result in better performance. A lot is being discussed regarding the privatization in Railway department which is a very dangerous trend. Therefore, privatisation should never be allowed.
Neither the doubling nor the electrification work of Barabanki-
Faizabad – Jaunpur has been undertaken. Consequently, Jammu Tavi –
Howrah train never reaches on time. Doubling and electrification work of
Lucknow to Barabanki- Faizabad –Jafarabad railway line be undertaken to remove any difficulty for reaching Howrah and Patna. Ayodhya be converted into a model railway station. Railway should ensure the even development in the country to remove any regional disparity. More stress should be laid on completing the projects in time. Railways have been facing the shortage of engineers at some places and the technical failure can lead to serious accidents. Hence, qualified engineers should be recruited. Faizabad –
Ayodhya be connected to Prayag to Chitrakoot and Trivandrum alongwith undertaking the doubling work of the said line.
SHRI KIREN RIJIJU: The hon. Railway Minister has given the status of national projects to Boghibeel Bridge and Rangiya-Morkungselek projects. The Finance Minister is not seem to be keen to follow declaration and there was slight confusion to the execution of projects. Since Arunachal
Pradesh is yet to be connected with Railway physically, the quota of berths given to all the districts should be increased and the computerized reservation system should be strengthened. The travel duration of all the trains running from North East and connecting all other parts of the country must be curtailed. The security of all the trains must be increased because in the last there were incidents of loots, violence, molestations and thefts against the people of North-East. The hon. Minister should ensure hygiene at the Railway Stations, inside the coaches and the food quality should also be improved. SHRI HARIKEWAL PRASAD: The hon. Minister of Railways should sincerely implement the announcements he makes in his Budget speech. He had announced that survey for a new railway line from Barhaj bazaar to Faizabad via Ramjanki Marg and Dohrighat will be conducted. But it has not been done so far. The Minister has ordered the shop-owners, who had been owners of said shops for 30 years, to vacate the shops at Salempur station. The quality of food being served in trains is worsening. The trains run late by hours. Every year, new trains are introduced in Bihar, but backward areas remain neglected and deprived. The lacklustre state of safety in trains is a matter of serious concern. RPF and GRP personnel extort money from passengers in place of providing security to them. Reservation quota meant for SCs has not been filled up in railways so far.
The stretch between Barabanki and Chhapra should be doubled and electrified expeditiously. Bihar Sampark Kranti Express and Garib Rath should be provided a stoppage at Deoria railway station under North Eastern
Railways. Computerised reservation facility should be provided at Bhatni Jn. under Banaras Division Engine shades should be constructed and the railway hospital, defunct at present, should be beautified. Computer reservation facility at Salempur station should be restored. Krisak Kranti’s stoppage at
Nunkhar station should be restored. Similarly, the previously provided stoppage of Intercity at Kidiharapur and Nunkhar should be restored. Bapu
Dham Express and Durg Express should be provided stoppage at Salempur and Bilthra road. An overbridge should be constructed at southern slop of
Salempur station. A new train should be introduced from Barhaj Bazar to
Siwan, Chhapra Jn. and Gorakhpur station. The dilapidated road in south of
Bilthra road, along with a waiting room, should be constructed. Previously announced, Intercity Express between Gorakhpur-Chhapra should be started.
The incomplete construction of culvert between Bilthra road-Turtipur station should be completed.
SHRI K.C. PALLANI SHAMY: I would like to extend my support to the Supplementary Demands for Grants for Railways. I would like to put forth two or three demands on behalf of the people of our state and of my constituency in particular. I would like to urge upon the Railways to take up doubling of Vilupuram and Dindigul line and release fund in time. This rail route is the life-line of Tamil Nadu and this doubling needs to be completed at the earliest. I request for electrification of the line between Tiruchirappalli and Eroda. This will greatly benefit the rail passengers in this section.
Linking Karur with Salem is yet to be completed and remains to be commissioned for the past 8 years. Not even 25 percent of works have been taken up as yet. I would like to have an explanation from the Minister for Railways as to why there persists a delay. I urge him to complete the project as announced within ten years. Apart from several culverts, a river bridge construction has to be completed for carrying out Salem-Karur Railway line.
Hon’ble Railway Minister has spelt out on several occasions about the linking of Chennai Egmore Railway station with Chennai Central Railway
Station. I request for providing direct linking of Chennai Central with
Chennai Egnore. Not only the people of Tamil Nadu but all the passengers coming from different parts of the country will be greatly benefited by linking of Chennai Central with Chennai Egmore station. I have made repeated requests to introduce a passenger train between Karur and Tiruchi.
The office goers, Railway staff, students and the labour class would be greatly benefited with the introduction of a passenger train linking Tiruchi with Karur. Since Karur is an important export hub, so it needs to be given better deal.
SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE: Railway traffic is increasing and the Central Government should give maximum grant for it. Nanded division from Mudkhed to Dhamabad should be included in the Central
Railway. It is our long-standing demand. Marathwada should be removed from south Central Railway and be included in the Central Railway. There is no railway in Beed city in Marathwada. A railway line should be constructed for linking western Maharashtra with Marathwada. Six hundred crore rupees would be needed for the five railway lines for Marathwada as mentioned by me. I urge you to provide this fund. I have requested many times for construction of the railway route to link Tirupati with Shirdi. Early completion of the Rotegoan-Puntamba railway line will establish railway link between Shirdi and Tirupati. The people of Maharashtra demand that they should be included in Central Railway instead of south Central
Railway. The demand for the Sholapur-Chandrapur-Dharashur-Usmanabad-
Beel-Gorai-Paitan-Sambhaji Nagar-Aurangabad-Sillore-Ajanta-Jalgaon rail route is a very old one. Therefore, a survey should be conducted for this route. AC first class coaches should be provided on Sachkhand Express.
Hampi Express should be run for four days from Nanded and for three days from Aurangabad.
SHRI A. SAI PRATHAP: Kadapa Banglore line should be considered on priority basis. I demand earliest approval and sanction for this line. Gauge conversion of Pakala Dharma Vanam one of the old Railway line be undertaken and Rs.150 crore should be released in the coming
Budget. Rs.127 crore should be allocated to complete new line work between Erraguntla and Nandyal so that it will shift ROC to Hyderabad and again to main coastal Andhra and even to Delhi. ROB & RUBI to be considered in the state A.P. on 50% sharing basis. Pending doubling and electrification work between Nandalm and Gooty should be completed.
EMU & DMU trains be introduced from Nandabr to Revisunta and DMU from Nandabr to Thadipathi.
SHRI BRAHMANANDA PANDA: No part of the country should be discriminated against or neglected so far as development of railway infrastructure is concerned. There are regions in the State of Orissa which have no rail link even today. The on-going projects should be completed on war-footing basis for economic prosperity of the State. Doubling of Khurda-
Puri railway link be complted early. Paradip-Haridaspur railway project and second bridge on Mahanadi river bridge be completed on priority. Western
Orissa and Southern Orissa are not connected by rail network. Some super fast express trains should be introduced from Puri to Delhi and from
Sambalpur to Delhi. A Garib Rath should be introduced from the State.
Rs.2,000 crore should be given to the State of Orissa under the Special Plan for improving railway infrastructure and its development.
Orissa is one of the few States in the country with substantial natural resources. However, the State has lacked development in the past due to absence of adequate infrastructure. Since 2002-2003, the State is undergoing a positive change in industrialization. The Ministry of Railways is requested to allot Rs. 880.00 crores towards ongoing railway projects, sanction of new lines, surveys, increase passenger amenities with introduction of new trains, extensions and increase in frequency etc. Earthwork and construction of bridges are in progress. The final location survey from 112-289 kms has been completed. The section from 0-36 kms should be commissioned in
2007-2008. Three doubling projects i.e., Nirgundi-Raghunathpur, Rahama-
Paradip and Rajatagarh-Nirgundi have been completed. Presently, eleven doubling projects including the two sanctioned last year are in progress in order to further augment line capacity. Ministry of Railways is requested to allot Rs. 300.00 crores for the doubling projects in Orissa. Electrification for the East Coast Link between Vishakhapatnam to Kharagpur has been completed. However, for the residual work, Ministry of Railways is asked to allot Rs. 40.00 crores for 2007-2008. The initial survey for Jaypore-
Malkangiri (117 kms) rail link was conducted in 2004. This rail link will provide succor to the most backward districts of Orissa. Ministry of
Railways is requested to accord sanction. The Ministry of Railways is requested to sanction four surveys for 2007-2008 i.e. Sambalpur-Berhampur via Birmaharajpuri (408 kms), Bolangir-Nawapara (159kms), Banspani-
Bimlagarh (80 kms), Jajpur Keonjhar Road-Jajpur (30 kms). Bhubaneswar/Kurla Express should run for five days a week and Puri-
Ahmedabad via Sambalpur Express should run everyday in a week. I would therefore, appeal Hon'ble Railway Minister that a special package be declared in respect of Orissa for its Railway Infrastructure Development.
SHRI PRAHLAD JOSHI: Intercity trains running between Hubli and Bangalore be extended upto Dharwad. Demand for new night trains from Hubli to Bangalore and Hubli to Mumbai should be met. Rani
Chennamma Express should run at 10 pm from both Bangalore and Hubli. I demand cleanliness in the railway bogies. The Government should take a serious note of neglect of local representatives by South Western Railway.
SHRI PRABODH PANDA: The poor people who are residing in the railway land for decades their problems should be taken up for right consideration. The rates of the Railway built houses should be reviewed.
Railway shops and stalls should be allotted to poor persons, hawkers and middle businessmen. There should be coordination between railway authorities and local administration for solving the problem of amenities at railway junction like Kharagpur which are situated at higher places. New quarters for railway staff should be constructed and road drainage and lighting system should be improved. Doubling of Kharagpur to Mednipur rail line should be expedited.
SHRI KHAGEN DAS: Indian Railways is the symbol of our
National Integration. It is unfortunate that Railway Ministry could not come out from the national outlook for providing desired benefit of this most important mode of communication to the far-flung areas of the country. In
North East States, Railways line is less than 1 km. Per 100 sq. km. which is less than half of national average. As many as seven States Capaitals of
North East Region are yet to be connected with rail. Coming to my state
Jaipur, the Railway line has come upto Man and construction of railway line upto Agartala is in progress but despite being "National Project’ there has been time overrun. Extension of this line beyond Agartala upto Subroom has been a long-standing demand of the people of Tripura. The Agartala-
Subroom-Chittagong line has become a necessity as this would ensure substantial flow of goods across international borders in the North Eastern
Region and to take care of this growth in traffic.
SHRI S. MALLIKARJUNAIAH: Sir, hon. Railway Minister has discriminated the state of Karnataka while giving approval to various railway projects. Therefore some railway projects should be considered in this Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) 2007-08. Doubling of the Yaswantpur-Tumkur railway line was announced during the year 1991 but this work is yet to be completed. Despite my repeated requests the
Railways has not taken up the electrification work of Tumkur-Yaswantpur railway line. It should be taken up on priority basis. Near Upparahalli in
Tumkur a ROB should be constructed. All the railway stations situated between Yaswantpur-Tumkur-Arasikere should be made ‘Model’ stations and Gates should be constructed at all the railway crossings. Express trains should have a stoppage at Karadi station at least for 2 minutes. At least 4 more general bogies should be attached to the Karnataka Express trains running between New Delhi and Bangalore city. More funds should be released to speed up the ambitious Bangalore Metro Rail Project.
SHRI SANTOSH GANGWAR: We all had expected that hon.
Minister would be present here in this House at the time of discussion of
Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) 2007-08 as he would be presenting the new railway budget after two months and thereafter as people say, there would be general elections. We all know that seventy-five percent of revenues of railways come from freight. Another glaring fact has come forth that 85% out of the revenue in this head is from transportation of government goods. If these facts are kept in mind then the countrymen can easily make out as to what are the reasons for huge profits of railways. Hon.
Minister has laid down the planning for 5 years for which a whopping sum of 3,00,000 crores would be needed. It is, therefore, to be decided as to from where this sum would be arranged. I would like to make a point here that several members apprise you about the problems relating to their constituencies and the hon. Minister also is told of these problems when he meets the Members. It is, therefore, my humble request that the members should get the feedback about the follow up action taken on their suggestions/problems. I had given in writing during the last budget but I have not received any feedback whatsoever till date. I would therefore like the Minister to ensure that we should get the response as to what action has been taken relating to the issues raised by us and also to enable us to apprise the people in this regard in our constituencies. Hon. Minister of Railways, I demand the quick resolution and proper action on the issues raised by me as follows:-
There is a coach repair and crane-manufacturing unit of North-Eastern
Railways in Ijjatnagar town of Bareilly which is on the verge of closure for want of work. Therefore, a suitable factory should be announced for this area and also gauge-conversion work should be undertaken from Ijjatnagar workshop to bareilly juction so as to connect these two stations. All the trains plying on Delhi-Morabadbad-Bareilly-Lucknow route should be stopped at Chanheti railway station and this station should be developed as Bareilly Cantt railway station. Doubling of Delhi-Moradabad rail route should be completed on priority basis within fixed time frame. Gauge conversion work from Kathgodam-Lalkuan-Baheri-Kosi to Mathura and from Bareilly-Pilibhit-Mailani-Lakhimpur to Lucknow should be completed.
A rail over-bridge should be constructed at the level crossings of Katghar
(cremation ground), Hartman, and Ijjatnagar in Bareilly. Bareilly Shyamganj railway station is not being used and is under encroachments. This is located in the centre of the city, therefore, all the encroachments should be removed and a commercial complex should be constructed there. A city-booking agency should be opened in the centre of Bareilly city as it is a big city with huge population. Sheds should be installed at platform No.2 and 4 at
Bareilly station. A broad gauge train should be introduced from Bareilly via
Lucknow to Kanpur. Owing to ongoing gauge-conversion work all the trains are running up to Mathura only. Several metre-gauge trains plying upto Agra are no more running. Therefore, frequency of Bareilly-Agra (Via Chandausi) passenger train should be increased and an express train should also be introduced upto Agra via Chandausi. An intercity express should also be introduced from Bareilly to Lucknow in the morning. Stoppage of train No.3289 plying from Rajendra Nagar ( ahead of Patna) to Jammu Tavi should be provided at Bareilly and its frequency should be increased. A superfast express train should be introduced between Jammu Tavi and
Lucknow- parliamentary constituency of former Prime Minister Shri Atal
Behari Vajpayee. Meerut is an important business town. Therefore an express train should be introduced upto Meerut either from Bareilly or
Lucknow. A Janshatabdi express or a superfast train should be introduced between Delhi and Lucknow via Bareilly so as to enable the passengers of
Bareilly travel between these two destinations in lesser time and at lesser cost. The frequency of train No.4115 Allahabad-Haridwar express should be increased and it should be made a daily train so as to benefit the passengers of these areas. A new survey should be undertaken to explore a new rail route so as to connect Bareilly and Kanpur. At present gauge conversion work is in full swing between Kanpur and Farukhabad and there already exists a broad gauge rail line from Bareilly to Miranpur Katra. Therefore
Miranpur Katra and Farukhbad should be connected in future which will help railways generate huge revenues. Several trains plying on Delhi-
Puri/Bhuvaneshwar rail route do not pass through Bareilly. It is my earnest request that at least the route of New Delhi-Puri Express train No.8476 running from New Delhi via Kanpur-Lucknow to Bhuvaneshwar should be changed as Kanpur-via-Bareilly and Lucknow to Bhuvaneshwar. I would also like to draw your kind attention that there is a culvert no.103 of northern railway at the main exit route of mohalla Gadhinath in Bareilly town. This culvert is very old and in a depleted state causing inconvenience to the people. In January 2007 the Divisional Engineer, Bareilly vide his letter
No.024/015 dated 25th January 2007 sent an estimate of Rs.15 lakh to the
DRM, Moradabad for repair of the said culvert. It is my humble request to you that necessary orders should be issued for broadening and repair of this culvert on priority basis. I would also like to draw your attention towards increasing the frequency of train No.2435/2436 New-Delhi- Dibrugarh
Rajdhani Express.
CHAUDHARY BIJENDRA SINGH: The Railways have earned a profit to the tune of Rs.20 thousand crore as a result of increase in freight.
Aligarh and Mathura should be connected with railway line. The next of the kins of the people killed in the accident occurred at the railway crossing near jail in Aligarh should be given rupees five lakh each and the construction of an over bridge should be sanctioned there as well as at Hapur crossing so that such accidents do not take place in future. The stoppage of at least two trains namely Vikramshila and Lichchawi Express should be provided at Aligarh Junction. The frequency of trains be increased or the number of bogies be increased on Aligarh-Bareilly line.
SHRI CHANDRABHAN SINGH: Lalitpur Singrauli Rail Line which has already been sanctioned should be allotted sufficient amount every year and a time limit should be fixed to complete this project.
Similarly, Jabalpur-Damoh-Panna survey work is also complete and in the public interest it should be provided funds from the Revised Budget. Survey work regarding a new rail line Damoh-Kundalpur is also complete. It should also be granted funds in this Budget itself. ATM facility should be provided at Damoh railway station. Jabalpur Jammu Tawi Express should run four times in a week and should be extended upto Udhampur so that the Jawans of Jabalpur and Sagar Cantonment area may get the facility for going
Udhampur. The present reservation quota of Damoh railway station should be doubled. The passenger train running between Damoh-Bina should be extended upto Bhopal. Bilaspur Rajdhani Exprss should go upto Raipur via
Sagar, Damoh and Katni. By providing stoppages at Anuppur, Vilashpur, it should be renamed Raipur Rajdhani Express. There is a overbridge at
Patharia Fathak at Damoh. A foot overbridge should be constructed facing
Patharia Marg. The Amarkanthak should run via Sagar-Bina it would facilitate the passengers of Damoh-Sagar going to Bhopal. A new rail service should be introduced from Jabalpur to Mumbai. The reservation quota for AC first class and second class and sleeper class should be increased in Gondvana Exress and Sampark Kranti at Damoh railway station.
SHRI SUDHANGSHU SEAL: During the last Railway Budget there was a proposal to extend the metro rail from Dumdum railway station to
Baranagar railway station. Finally, it was to be extended upto Kalighat
Temple. I would request the hon. Minister to complete the survey and start the execution work soon. Our specific proposal is that Metro Rail should go up to Dum Dum Airport. In view of the financial background of all the
States, proportion of expenditure by the Railway Ministry and the State
Government should be changed to 75:25. If 100 percent of the purchase by the Railways is from the Self-Help Groups, from the Khadi, then it would give benefits to thousands of producers. I want the assurance from you that the shops and vendors operating from railway land will be legalized and regularized. There are three railway bridges in my constituency. They are called No.1, No.2 and No.3 bridges. The work of widening and strengthening of these three bridges should be taken up immediately as I have already given Rs.8 lakh from my MPLAD fund for the survey purpose.
I support your Supplementary Demands. SHRI MUNSHI RAM: There is a need to construct Bijnour
Hastinapur Meerut Rail line in public interest in view of the religious and historical importance of Hastinapur.
I demand the stoppage of Amritsar-Saharsa Jan Sewa Express (5209-
5210) and Amritsar-Darbhanga Jan Nayak Express (5211-5212) at Nagina
Railway Station, construction of diversion on Maujampur Narayan Junction on Gajraula line before Maujampur Narayan Junction on Jammu-Tawi-
Hawrah main line, introduction of a new train from Najibabad to Delhi in the morning between 5 to 6 AM and back in the evening after 6 PM, introduction of a direct train in southern and western part of the country from district Bijnour and J.P. Nagar and the construction of bridge near LXI
NG No. 483 of Najibabad Junction on Railway Crossing National Highway-
74 and L X I NG No.-471 near Nagina Railway Station.
PROF. M. RAMADASS: Pudicherry is a Union Territory but there is no proper development of railway in Pudicherry. As far as Pudicherry is concerned some of the issues have to be solved i.e. connect the four regions of the Union Territory by railways, connect Pudicherry to other capital cities of the country and the capital of India by Railways, creation of facilities in
Pudicherry railway station, several services between Villupurou-Pudicherry may be provided, expedite gauge conversion between Nogove and Koroikal, extend the Koroikal Express to Pudicherry, a new train from Pudicherry to
Mangalore, from Pudicherry to Bangalore via Viridhaetoloure, Salem,
Dhrampur should be introduced. Pudicherry-Chennai Express can be plied for all the seven days. Pudicherry-Tirupati train may be operated in the night and a new train from Pudicherry to New Delhi should be introduced.
SHRI AFZAL ANSARI: As far as comparison with the Chinese
Railways is concerned, I would like to say that Indian Railways is in a much better position. I would like to stress upon three main points with regard to the Indian Railways. First, better safety measures should be put in place to ensure security of the railway passengers. Secondly, many measures have been adopted to stop accidents but more efforts need to be made in this direction. Number of railway accidents can be minimized if the practice of fixing responsibility for such accidents is adopted. Thirdly, if trains begin to run on time then not only the country but the world would have to acknowledge our efficiency. As far as his announcements regarding Bihar are concerned, the State Government is not providing land and therefore the implementation of the announced plans is getting delayed. I support the demand for grants. SHRI RAMESH DUBE: The work of doubling of railway line from
Varanasi to Allahabad is moving at a snail’s pace. I hope that efforts would be made to complete the said work at the earliest. Doubling of railway line from Varanasi to Lucknow via Pratapgarh needs to be done. Trains from
Varanasi to Kanpur and Allahabad via Janghai and from Allahabad to
Kolkata via Gyanpur should be started. Construction of terminal at
Madhosingh railway station would help to reduce the passenger density at
Varanasi. Parsipur Mod, Suriyawa, Sarai, Kansarai do not have road links to railway stations as yet. Overbridges should be put up near Bhadohi and
Madhosingh stations on Lumbini-Mirzapur road. Poorva Express train used to go to New Delhi via Bhadohi which has been discontinued now. This train ought to be restarted. A shuttle train service needs to be run between
Varanasi and Janghai. A train on the lines of Rajdhani trains needs to be run between Mumbai and Allahabad so that factories can be established in
Northern Uttar Pradesh and travelling is made earlier.
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : I request the hon. Railway Minister to complete the work on Pattabiram ROB, Thiniruvoon ROB, Nemnilichery new Railway Station; and to provide stoppage of Express trains in
Thirumvallur or Avadi and suburban halt at Avadi and Gummudipoondi. SHRI KISHAN SINGH SANGWAN: Four tracks should be provided in place of the existing two railway tracks between Sonepat and
Ambala. Two projects were sanctioned for Jhajjar-Rewari-Rohtak and Jind-
Gohana-Sonepat. Work on the Rewari line has been started but work on
Jind-Sonepat project has not started as yet. A road overbridge (ROB) is being built at Gannaur. It should be completed expeditiously. No train runs from Panipat to New Delhi after 10’O clock in the morning. This has to be remedied. Sonepat should be upgraded as a model station. A ticket counter each should also be provided at the other side of Gannaur and Bahadurgarh railway stations. Sonepat used to be a major station for loading and unloading of goods but it was discontinued many years ago. Loading and unloading of goods should be started again at Sonepat.
SHRI HANSRAJ G. AHIR: Railways should have such a policy that could cater the needs of all the sections of the society. Basic amenities should be provided at the existing railway stations and new modal stations should be set up. Laying of new railway lines should be given top priority.
There is no railway facility in Gadchiroli district. A survey has been conducted for Badsa to Armori. Gadcheroli and allocation should be made in this budget to complete this line. A survey should be conducted for a new rail line from Ballarshaha to Surajagarh. I demand to introduce a direct train from Ballarshaha to Mumbai and to introduce a shuttle train from
Ballarshaha Chandrapur to Nagpur. I demand to provide PRS-VTS facility at all the stations, to construct another line from Chanda station to Gondia station and also to electrify this route and to construct Babupeth overbridge
(Chandrapur town).
SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN: I reiterate the long standing demand for the formation of West Coast Zone with headquarter in Kerala. The Railway
Minister has already declared in the House to set up Coach Factory at
Palakkad. The work of the project has to be expedited. A pre-requisite for the railway development of Kerala is the high speed passenger corridor from
Trivandrum to Mangalore. With regard to the electrification the work of the
Shornur – Mangalore is yet not started, this has to be included in the railway project. We have already given proposals for the construction of new railway lines such as Kollankod – Trichur, Tellicherry – Mysore and
Nilambur – Nanjangode. Some of the proposals of the previous Railway
Budget like the Triangular Railway Station at Shornur should be expedited.
The trains Cochin – Bangalore and Kannur – Yashantpur should be made daily. The proposal of work on wagon repairing workshop at Nemom
Trivandrum should be expedited. As Kerala is the tourist State the trains from Kanyakumari to Goa should be introduced and there is also a need to introduce Calcut – Mangalore, Ernakulam – Coimbatore intercity express.
The passenger train from Kannur to Mangalore has to be introduced. The work of 10 ROB’s in Kerala need to be completed without further delay.
Due to the new policy adopted by the railway, the railway porters and workers are facing problems. I hope that the Hon’ble Railway Minister will consider all this favourably.
SHRI DEVWRAT SINGH : There has been tremendous change in the Railway infrastructure during the last three and a half years. Corruption used to be an issue in the Railways earlier but it has decreased a lot and the common man is quite relieved. Laluji has not got a magic wand. It was only by dint of better management and better vision, and above all he has tried his best to give benefits of railways to the common man. Chhattisgarh is a backward state with a huge mining potential. Sanction for laying railway tracks in Rajnandgaon from Dhongargarh to Kota via Tharagarh-Kavarna should be granted. Dhongargarh should be announced as a model station where the holy temple of Mother Vimleshwari Deviji ji is situated and about thirty to forty lakh people come here for Darshan annually. A big ground of the Railways is there at Dhongargarh which should be developed into a railway stadium. The name of the Chhattisgarh Sampark Kranti Express should be renamed as Satnam Sampark Kranti Express after Guru Ghasidas
Baba.
SMT. JAYAPRADA: Since independence hon'ble Shri Lalu Prasad ji has done a marvellous job in the Railways in a very short span of time. But I got very much disappointed after going through the list of supplementary demands because provisions for Uttar Pradesh were very much necessary in it . The amenities which should be provided to the passengers at B-grade stations are not being provided. What to speak of amenities even security arrangements are not adequate there. There is need to open a computerized reservation office for reservations at B-grade stations. No facility for repairing and maintenance of railway tracks are available at the places where new rail lines have been introduced. Railway tracks get submerged in
Andhra Pradesh during floods. Passengers face problems at B-grade railway stations during nights due to non-availability of electricity. No drinking water facility is available at various stations. I want to give you an example from Rampur, my parliamentary constituency. Collision of a rail engine with a tractor took place at Kaimari-Ghatampur on Rampur-Kathgodam rail route on Novemebr, 22. I request the hon'ble Minister to announce a compensation of Rs. two lakh to families of the deceased and Rs. one lakh to the injured persons. A "Palace on Wheels" train should be introduced between Delhi and Agra because a large number of tourists visit Agra. Thousands of people get reservation from a single reservation counter at Rampur. I would like to request for opening more reservation counters so that getting reservation could be easy. I also request to introduce an additional train from Rampur to
Ajmer. Muslim minorities of Rampur will be benefited by this. Many students go to study at Aligarh University from Rampur. Trains should be given stoppage at Rampur and a train should be run from Rampur to
Muradabad and Bareilly.
SHRI B. MAHTAB: Pace of expansion of country’s rail network should match with the rate of growth in freight and passenger traffic and adequate funds should be provided for execution of rail projects in tribal and backward regions. There are about 200 projects for new lines pending mostly in hilly, tribal and backward regions but there is no budgetary support to execute them. These areas will continue to remain backward forever if adequate attention is not paid immediately. For Orissa the
Railways has sanctioned 6 new BG Rail line, 11 doublings and 2 gauge conversions alongwith electrification projects in order to cater to the additional generation of traffic. Heavy investment is required from Ministry of Railways for completion of the sanctioned projects as well as sanction of new lines, survey and electrification etc. I urge upon the Government to complete all sanctioned projects within 5 years. Extension of Nuapada-
Gunupur Rail Link to Theruvali be explored on priority basis. Khurda Road to Bloangir project needs special attention. There is a need to allot adequate funds for this project. For Haridaspur-Paradeep rail link, it is essential that adequate funds be made available and a time bound programme to commission it by 2011 be ensured as a large number of steel plants in Dubri-
Kalinga Nagar Complex as well as Posco and Mittal projects are coming up.
The recent thrust of industrialization with setting up of Steel, Power and
Aluminium plants would require a dedicated Railway link between Talcher to Gopalpur for export of raw materials and finished products. I would request the Ministry to consider to increase the frequency of Bhubaneswar-
New Delhi Rajdhani Express to seven days a week. Orissa has only coaching terminal at Bhubaneswar . This terminal should be expanded in order to accommodate more number of trains. Similarly proper coaching terminals may be developed at Berhampur, Sambalpur and Koraput. The project to develop a station in between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar into a international standard may be completed in a time bound manner. More stress be given on
Dedicated Freight Corridor and High Speed Passenger Corridor Projects on which the future of the Railways depend. SHRI RAMJILAL SUMAN: As per a report submitted in regard to the Ministry of Railways by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, the Ministry of Railways announces projects without making a concrete evaluation. The Report further states that the Ministry of
Railways starts new projects without completing old projects which causes inordinate losses to the Ministry. The Agra-Etawah broad gauge project was launched in Uttar Pradesh in the year 1999, a major portion of which passes through my parliamentary constituency Firozabad. Not even half of the funds have been released for this project even after the elapse of 8 years. Not fixing a deadline for the completion of any project is a matter of great concern. I would expect the hon. Minister to release a lump sum amount for this project without delay so that it could be completed immediately. 10 to
50 per cent commission is given to Reliance, Loyal and Steel Industries for maximum transportation of goods through the Railways. All the institutions should be given relief on the lines of these institutions. The senior officers should have been brought to book for the accident which took place at
Gaisal Railway station in 1999; however, they have been easily let off. My parliamentary constituency Firozabad is world famous for glass industry.
Stoppage of Purva Express, Jodhpur-Howrah Express, North-East Express and Swatantrata Sangram Senani Express at Firozabad railway station is essential. There is no proper arrangement for Sulabh toilets at this station.
There is a need to set up more reservation counters here.
SHRI A.V. BELLARMIN: It is very urgent to make the line double from Villupuram to K. Kumari. Electrification of the railway line from
Villupuram to K. Kumari may also be taken up urgently as this will reduce the running cost and will also be eco- friendly. All trains which halt and start from Trivandrum, Maduri, Trumbumli may be organized from K. Kumari.
The long demand of night trains to Bangalore should be announced earlier.
Special sanction be given to a station at Parvathipuram. A demand for a referral Hospital to the Employees working in Kanyakumari sector at
Nagerioli has not been fulfilled. Please accord a special sanction for that.
The Railways should be maintained as public sector. All proposals of outsourcing, contracting, privatising should be dropped. I extend my support to the Supplementary Demands for Grants.
DR. C. KRISHNAN: I would like to make a demand to the hon.
Railway Minister that the area transferred to the Kerala Division should be brought back either to Salem Division or Madurai Division. Computer reservation facility at Udumalpet station in Coimbatore is very much needed.
For gauge conversion from Dindugal-Palam-Pollati; Pollachi to Coimbatore and Pollachi to Parghad, Kerala Rs. 1 crore was sanctioned during 2006-07 for preliminary works. Budget allotment of Rs. 30 crore has been made for this year. Work in this regard should be started immediately and the work of
BG conversion completed in a very short span of time. Beturean
Kruathukadavu and Pollacti-Mullupadi rail gate should be facilitated with
ROB. In Pollachi, Kotlur-Valparai rail gate should be immediately widened and ROB should be built. In Udumalpet, Udumalpet-Dhali Road Rail gate is sanctioned for ROB but no work has been started so far. An underground passage should be provided between Udunal-Dhali Road and Udumalpet-
Railway station to faciliate two wheeled vehicles to pass through near
Rudhrappa Nagar-Udumalpet in Madathukulam, Udumalpet in Coimbatore station. Five trains plying towards Palani and Coimbatore via Pollachi should continue to stop at Madathukulam.
DR. R. SENTHIL: I would like to request the hon. Minister to allocate funds for gauge conversion in the State of Tamil Nadu. The electrification of the lifeline railway track of Tamil Nadu, namely, Chennai-
Rameshwaram and the track connecting Villipuram-Rameshwaram is an urgent need. The tracks connecting Madurai-Tuticorin and Maniachi-
Nagerkoil would also have to be electrified. I would like to request the hon.
Minister to allocate more funds so that the new lines connecting Nagari- Dindivanam; Dindivanam-Thiruvannamalai; Nagapattinam-
Thiruthuraipoondi; and Salem-Karur could be constructed at an early date.
Survey for Morappur-Dharmapuri and Dindigul-Lower Camp railway line be taken up seriously. A stretch of around 277 kilometres need to be doubled as it carries the highest passenger density in the State. It would require a fund allocation to the tune of Rs. 822 crore. I would like to request the
Ministry of Railways to take it up on its own shoulders and do the project at the earliest. I would like to mention that the automatic signalling may be extended from Chennai up to Coimbatore.
SHRI P. MOHAN: The Railway Quarters are in a dilapidated condition, basic sanitary facilities and even drinking water facilities are not there. There is an urgent need to increase the salaries and perks of Railways
Employees to improve their living standards alongwith providing proper medical facilities. When that kind of turnaround and growth is there in
Railways, why should there be outsourcing and private agencies to attend to beddings and others in Railways hospitals. When it comes to Engineering works also Railways have resorted to out-sourcing. This must be stopped.
There is a need to determine and streamline the duty stations and operational requirements of the personnel on the mechanized trolley. In trains that witnessed a trend of less than 50% of utilization of Tatkal quotas, the Tatkal charges must be made Rs. 25/- cutting down by 50 percent. It was announced in the last Budget that Madurai-Mannad train will run twice a week. I urge upon the Railways to introduce one more train to translate in to action the announcement made in the Rail Budget. Villupuram-Dindigul-
Kanyakumari gauge conversion and doubling of line alongwith electrification must be taken up. Laying of the double broad gauge line between Madurai and Dindigul must be completed on a war footing.
SHRI RAVICHANDRAN SIPPIPARAI: The Central Government
Cabinet decided to laying separate freight corridors between Delhi and
Mumbai and also between Delhi and Calcutta. At the same time Southern
India, our Chennai has been ignored by this dedicated Rail Freight Corridor.
Chennai is a growing industrial hub. I demand the Railway Minister for dedicated freight corridor to Chennai from Mumbai and Delhi. Even after six months of announcement the proposed Nagroil-Coimbareo Express Train has not yet started. The Gauge Conversion work between Virudhuragar and
Manamadurai must be completed with time bound manner. Computerized ticket reservation facility should be provided at Aruppokottai and
Sirrilputtur. I request the Minister for providing a stoppage of Kanyakumaria
Express at Koripatti, at the earliest. SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA : The larger chunk of encroached land falls under the purview of Northern Railways. The possession of land should be legalized by giving it to them on lease or rent. Due attention needs to be given to sanitation in AC first class coaches in long distance trains.
There is only one platform in Roper. It being district headquarters one more platform needs to be constructed to cope up with the enormity of work there.
Moreover, a dispensary too needs to be set up there. A direct train from
Hoshiarpur to Amritsar should be introduced and Hoshiarpur-Jallandhar-
Ferozepur train should be renamed as Hoshiarpur- Ferozepur train. There is high potentiality of the goods trains in Hoshiarpur. Moreover, the DMU train originating from there should be extended to Amritsar. There is a rail line between Anandpur to Patna Sahib. In order to promote tourism from religious point of view a direct train from Anandpur Sahib to Patna Sahib should be introduced.
SHRIMATI ARCHANA NAYAK : There is an urgent need for speeding up the Haridaspur-Paradip railway line work, which comes under my constituency, and complete the work within a specific time. The
Rajdhani Express, running four days in a week from Bhubaneswar to Delhi should be made daily. The frequency of Lokmanya Tilak Express should be increased to at least four days in a week. The facility of pantry car in Lokmanya Tilak Express may please be introduced. In Puri-Tirupati
Express, AC-II compartments, along with a pantry car, may please be introduced.
In the end I would like to request the Minister of Railways that investigation has not been conducted into the murder of an engineer and his brother.
SHRI GHURAN RAM: I would like to draw the attention of the hon’ble Minister towards several problems of my Lok Sabha constituency
Palamu.
A passenger train be started between Barwadih and Bhavnathpur.
New Delhi Ranchi Rajdhani Express via Varkakana (2454/2453) be run three days a week. A railway line be laid from Barwadih junction to
Chirmiri via Ambikapur. An EMU train be started from Dehari on Sone to
Barwadih junction. The Intercity Express running between Varanasi to
Hatiya be provided stoppage at the Nawadih station. The Link Express running between Barwadih and Lucknow be provided stoppage at the Meral
Gram station. Jharkhand Swranjayanti Express (2873) be provided stoppage at the Aligrah. Haider Nagar station be upgraded and a foot bridge be constructed there. Koshiara station, Garhva station, Nawadih station and Nagar Uttari station be converted into model railway stations and foot bridges also be constructed on them. Railway crossing be constructed near village Panjari and village Kadal. Reservation quota of four berths be fixed from Meral station in the Palamu Link Express. Pantry car be started in
Shaktipunj and Triveni Express. Bamani and Arngi stations have already been constructed. There is need to get them started. Palamu Express be provided stoppage at the Lalgarh station and Shakikunj Express be provided stoppage at the Meral Gram station.
SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHAHEEN: In regard to Kashmir, I would like to say that the hon’ble Minister of Railways can create history if he is able to get Baramula-Kupwara project sanctioned. Baramula – Kajigund and
Udhampur- Kajigund is a historical project and it would be matter of pride for Indian Railways if such a great achievement is made. If Kupwara project is completed it will benefit not only Railways but the entire country besides creating a historical achievement. Thousands of pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi temple from all across the country. Hence, I would like that adequate amenities for the passengers are provided at the Jammu Railway station for the convenience of the passengers during the busy season. I would also like to bring a very important issue to the attention of the hon’ble Minister of Railways. Presently, there are only few thousand personnel of the Railway Protection Force and several incidents of crime have taken place on various routes. So I would like to request that the number of RPF personnel be increased to strengthen the railway safety network. Finally, I would like to request the hon’ble Minister to conduct an enquiry into incident of the killing of an engineer and his brother.
SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID: The Railway is doing well in all spheres. Ayappan Temple pilgrims be facilitated by way of laying a broad gauge line via Dindigul-Bathalgundu-Periyakulam-Theni-Bodi-Kambam.
Two over bridges have to be built, one near Theni Collectorate connecting the bypass, and the next one at Theni-Kambam High Road. A cardamom, tea, and paddy Freight booking Centre be opened at Theni. Work on
Madhurai-Rameshwaram line, Chennai-Tanjaur- Nagapatnam Railway line and Myladuthuru-Karaikuddi railway line, and Tirunelvelli-Tinkaci line have to be taken on war footing basis and have to be completed within the stipulated time.
SHRIMATI K. RANI: Salem-Karur railway line in my constituency has been pending for more than 10 years. Only finance is the constraint to taking up this project. We need to allocate at least Rs. 100 crore a year for the early completion of this project whereas the Railways have allocated only Rs. 20 crore. The people of Tamil Nadu particularly the people of
Salem and Namakkal are very happy to have a separate Railway Division. I would request that the release of Emergency Quota from Salem in the North- bound trains starting from Kerala like the Kerala Express may be provided so that it is honoured at Salem itself. Finally I would say that recently he has started a train from Vridhachalam to Salem. It should be thrice a day.
SHRI PANNIAN RAVINDRAN: More railway services should start from Kerala. The Erankulam-Delhi Mangla Express should be extended upto
Thiruvananthapuram. New train should start from Bangalore to Kerala. A separate track should be constructed for passenger trains. The maintenance of coaches should be a regular and time bound work. Also the security of passengers should be ensured. The electrification and doubling of Palghat-
Mangalapuram line and the Ernakulam- Thiruvananthapuram line via
Kottayam and Alleppey should be completed. The survey work of
Nilampoor-Nangakod railway and Talasherry Mysore Railway should be completed. Doubling and electrification of Thiruvananthapuram-
Kanyakumari route should be completed. A west coast Railway zone should be constituted consisting of Thiruvananthapuram-Palghat, parts of Salem
Division and parts of Konkan Railway upto Goa.
SHRI ABU AYES MONDAL : Bandel-Katwa section, doubling of
Bandel-Jirat works may be completed as soon as possible. Condition of
Samundragarh and Kalinagar railway stations on Bandel-Katwa railway section of West Bengal is vulnerable. These two stations are only 40 metres away from the mighty Ganga, while five years ago, the Ganga was 2 kilometres away from these two stations. I demand all steps to be taken up to save these two stations as well as to save the whole railway line. The
Railways Development Authority has been set up for commercial development of railway land. I urge upon the Ministry of Railways to get a commercial settlement with the people who have been living as well as using this land for years together. Doubling from Sealdah-Bongaigaon have been going on for the last ten years now. I demand that the works may be completed as early as possible.
PROF. RASA SINGH RAWAT : Railways is the lifeline of the country and a great unifying factor. The way hon’ble Minister has made
Railways a profitable venture, without increasing passenger and freight charges is definitely a miracle. The hon. Minister has got great faith in
Ajmer Sharief and had announced making the Ajmer Railway Station a world class railway station. I hope this will be translated into action. Puja
Express runs late by 2-3 hrs. daily thereby causing great inconvenience to thousands of passengers going to Vaishno Devi. Therefore, I request that the three principles of punctuality, safety and security should be strictly enforced. Delhi Mail stops in Delhi at platform number 6 or 7 or 8 which are quite small. Due to which accidents take place. Therefore this train should be provided stoppage at main platform besides increasing the no. of coaches as well as ensuring punctuality. A train should be run between Ratlam-
Udaipur-Chittaur-Ajmer-Jaipur-Bhilwara-Delhi to save time as well as to increase profits of the Railways. There is no direct train between Delhi and
Bhilwara. Therefore, this demand should be looked into. There is no direct day train between Delhi and Ajmer. If such a train is introduced it will be beneficial for the people as well as the Railways. The train introduced between Amritsar and Jaipur for the benefit of the followers of Radhaswami sect should be extended upto Ajmer for the larger benefit. An announcement was made for construction of a railway line between Ajmer and Pushkar.
However, the work is progressing at a slow pace. If this work gets completed in your tenure, it will be quite praiseworthy. There is a need to provide two minutes stoppage of Ashram Express at Byawar for the benefit of the people of South India. There is also a need to pay greater attention towards cleanliness of the trains. I would like to thank you for providing a link from
Ajmer to Bihar and Jharkhand. I further request you to link Ajmer with
Guwahati and go in for gauge conversion of the link with Hyderabad. There is no provision for posting of Chowkidars at railway crossings in villages. If all the railway crossings are converted into manned railway crossings it will be quite good. There is no Chowkidar at Topgarh in Ajmer. The State
Government of Rajasthan has written a letter for constructing an overbridge.
However the railway officials are not accepting the proposal. Therefore, a decision must be taken for constructing an overbridge at Topgarh near
Ajmer Railway Station. Kishangarh is the largest market for marble in Asia.
The demand for constructing an overbridge at this place was accepted, but the work is progressing at slow speed. Therefore, the construction of an overbridge at Kishangarh, for which Rs.56 crore had already been sanctioned, should be completed soon.
SHRIMATI JHANSI LAKSHMI BOTCHA : The Indian Railways need to invest a lot to upgrade IT facilities in the rail network. In my parliamentary constituency, more than 15 per cent of the people are disabled.
I request the Railway Minister to grant railway concession passes to BPL people as well as to pregnant BPL women. The industrial growth centers are coming up in Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh. A mini integrated industrial corridor is being developed there. I request the Railway Minister to upgrade the Bobbili railway station to meet the growing demands of the industrialists. The present Railway sliding should be developed and expanded there.
Coastal Andhra exports mangoes from the backward district
Vizianagaram to various places in India and abroad. Due to availability of limited wagons, export of mangoes in huge quantity is not possible.
Therefore, the mango growers are put to huge losses. The Railways should grant a sliding to the agriculture market yard and provide sufficient number of wagons. In my parliamentary constituency there are business centers,
Chipurupalli and Rajam. They export granite and graphite. Moreover, there are engineering and medical colleges in these areas. Halt to express trains at these places may be provided so that the people can benefit out of it.
Railways can propagate historical and important tourism places in
Andhra Pradesh in their trains. I thank the Railway Minister that he has connected many State Capitals. I request for his consideration to connect
Rajpur (Chhattisgarh) with Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) via titlagarh, Rayogoda, Bobbili, Vizianagaram; then Samata Nizamuddin via Jhansi,
Anuppur, Raipur, Bina and Katni.
SHRI TAPIR GAO: Every year we are presenting Railway Budget in this House but we forget and we miss to connect the North Eastern States.
Lalu Ji, had promised three projects to connect Arunachal Pradesh but the survey and investigation has also not taken place till today. More railway connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh and the North Eastern Region is not only in the interest of rapid economic development but also in the nation’s interest. It is important also from the point of view of defence strategy. Some of the connectivity in Agartala and Lumding lines has been brought into focus but more connectivity is required. The country has failed to see the railway requirements. China has constructed the line at the top of the
Himalayas, about 21,000 feet height. So, why can the Railway Ministry or the Railway Department not able to connect some of the districts in
Arunachal Pradesh? A new line from Lekhapani to Jairampur may kindly be extended so that the South Asian countries could be connected through that way.
SHRI GANESH PRASAD SINGH: I am grateful to the hon.
Minister of Railways for having started Dehri on Son-Patna, via Gaya Intercity Express. Further, I would urge hon. Minister to expedite completion of these projects – Doubling of Patna-Gaya rail line should be completed expeditiously. Rail overbridge near Jahanabad-Arval turn for going to Arval should be sanctioned and completeted by 2007-08. Road should be constructed by railways from Jahanabad Court station to Western side. It will facilitate convenient passage for the public. A rail overbridge on south Masodhi crossing of Taregana station and road from Taregana station to Chotaki Masodhi halt should be constructed.
SHRI SITA RAM YADAV: Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur new rail line should be completed as scheduled by March 2008 and Darbhanga-Sitamarhi-
Narkatia meter gauge line should be converted into broad gauge by March,
2008. Sitamarhi sleeper factory should be commissioned soon. The new railway line between Sitamarhi, Sonbarsa, Sarsaun, Jamnagar and
Muzaffarpur (Narayangarh) Katra, Orai, Kanakpur, for which survey has been conducted should be approved and work should be started. Two ROBs should be constructed in east and west of Sitamarhi junction on Darbhanga-
Sitamarhi line and one ROB on eastern crossing of Janakpur road.
SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN : During the 2005-06 Railway
Budget, a new railway line from Erode-Palani was announced. The survey on this line is already over. The Report has also been submitted to the
Railway Board. Its cost is Rs. 284.84 crore. I would humbly request the hon.
Railway Minister to sanction this project immediately. On the Dindigul-
Coimbatore line, the work has already started for its gauge conversion. Now, further amount is to be announced.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO: Railway is the lifeline of the country’s economic growth. Titlagarh to Jagdalpur via Khariar line was surveyed before Independecne. This line may be resurveyed to exploit the vast natural resources of Orissa and Chhattisgarh and also create port connectivity with Visakhapatnam. Junagarh to Ambaguda via Nowrangpur line also should be resurveyed. Though work is going on on Langigarh-
Junagarh line, but it is going on a very slow pace because of fund allocation.
I would request the work on this line may be expedited. I also request
Hon’ble Minister to increase the frequency of the Samata Express and make it a daily train from Visakhapatnam to Nizamuddin (Train No. 2807-2808), and extend the Train No. 2893 from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada.
SHRI M. SHIVANNA: I request the hon. Minister to enhance the allocation of funds for Chamarajanagar-Mettaplyam rail line which is pending since long. There is an urgent need to expedite work on Mysore- Chamarajanagar railway line. Bangalore-Mysore rail line should be doubled and electrified without further loss of time. Besides a new train Garib Rath should be introduced between Bangalore and Mysore and a wheel and axle factory should also be set up in Mysore. Metro rail should be completed at the earliest.
Nizamuddin-Bangalore Rajdhani Express should be made a daily train. Two more persons should be appointed to look after the VIP rest room at Bangalore city railway station and their salary should be enhanced.
Survey work for Bangalore and Chamarajanagar via Kanakapura be started first. Bangalore-Jolarpet rail line should be doubled. This rail line may be extended upto Satyamangala and Mettuplyam. Bangalore Chennai rail line should be electrified and doubling of this line be speeded up.
SHRI HARIBHAU RATHOD: The Hon’ble Minister of Railways had announced to undertake the construction of Nanded-Yavatmal-Vardha-
Rail Line in the previous Budget. However, no funds have been provided for the purpose. I would urge the Hon’ble Minister to pay attention to it.
Railway employees should be given LTC facility for Andaman & Nicobar as an incentive for their work and attention should be paid to the small remote areas. SHRI SHANKHLAL MAJHI: Doubling work on Lucknow-
Gorakhpur line should be accelerated. It takes 8-10 hours in reaching
Varanasi from Gorakhpur, a distance of merely 200 kms. If a bridge is constructed on river Saryu it will provide direct connectivity between
Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Further, after its construction, if Akbarpur, Kanda is connected with Sultanpur, Pratapgarh it will facilitate a direct connectivity of this area to south India. Now I would like to draw attention of the hon.
Minister to a major problem of my constituency. There is no pavement for pedestrian on overbridge on crossing number 83 of district headquarters
Ambedkar Nagar. Thousand of men and school going children have to cross this overbridge in absence of any pavement. There is always apprehension of an accident. Therefore, I would urge the hon. Minister to re-open the crossing as was earlier. There is no AC Retiring Room at Akbarpur railway station. Therefore, there is a need to provide an AC Retiring Room there.
Also, there is no overbridge for passengers for going to platform number two from platform number one. There is a need to construct an overbridge there and also provide parking facilities. There is no train service for South India from Gorakhpur-Allahabad, via Ambedkar Nagar, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh.
Gorakhpur, Maghar, Mukhlispur, Tanda, Akbarpur, Sultapur should be provided a direct connectivity. There is no pavement for pedestrians on crossing number 83A at Akbarpur railway station. Said crossing was closed two months prior to opening of said ROB. Consequently, thousands of small school children and other people have to walk through crowded foot overbridge. In view of it, I strongly demand reopening of said crossing 83A.
A foot overbridge should immediately be constructed at Akbarpur railway station. At least four booking windows and one for enquiry should be opened at Akbarpur. In addition to it, one AC Retiring Room/Waiting Room including toilets and parking facility should be constructed at Akbarpur station.
SHRI G. KARUNAKARA REDDY: Bellary and Hampi are in need of enormous and extensive Railway transport facilities as follows: A medical team should be present/posted in each and every long distance train; two more general compartments, five more sleeper coaches and two more 3tier
AC coaches in Hampi Express for the benefit of common people who are facing lot of difficulties due to shortage of coaches; restoration of Guntakai-
Gadag Passenger train; restoration of the timings of the Amaravati Express as per previous schedule viz. 7.25 AM from Bellary; introduction of another direct train from Chennai to Mumbai and vice versa via Bellary and Hospet; road overbridge on the railway line (LC :110) crossing National Highway
No.63 between Ankola-Gooty Section; road underbridge at the place where National Highway No.13 of Sholapur – Mangalore Section crosses one railway line LC : 13 (13-14) near the Kanavi Veerabhadra Temple at
Km.298; arranging for departure of Hampi Express (Train No.6591/6592) from Bellary at 6.45 AM instead of 6.00 AM; advancing of departure of
Bangalore-Hospet Passenger (Train No.583/584) from Bellary to Hospet at
8.00 AM instead of 10.45 AM; running a Palace on Wheels train for Hampi which is also a World Heritage Centre; more facilities at Hubli which will benefit its status as zonal headquarters; re-introduction of all the trains prevailing prior to gauge-coversion between Guntapul and Hubli, to alleviate the hardships of the passengers and employees of the regions; introduction of direct train from Koppal through Bellary to Gulbarga via Guntakal; connecting the inter-city train between Bangalore-Hubli in Chikkajajur from
Bellary and Koppal; extending of the Train No.311 Bellary-Miraj and 312
Miraj-Bellary to Guntakal; extending of Bangalore-Hospet Passenger (Train
No.583/584) upto Gadag and arranging for departure from Gadag at 3.00
PM daily; making stoppage of Train No.2847/2848 at Koppal Railway
Station being a District Headquarter; introduction of a push-pull train between Guntakal and Kottur, Guntakal and Gadag, Bellary and Koppal and
Hospet and Hampi to help the common people, especially office goers and students. Kottur-Harihara Railway line forms an important link between two coasts, East and West. The line which is economically viable should be given more emphasis. The authorities at Bellary Railway Station are giving preference to the goods train and taking the goods train at the platform where passenger train has to come which is causing great difficulties to the passengers, especially to the elder persons, students and sick people who have to switch over to the next platform. This practice should be avoided.
SHRI NAND KUMAR SAI: Two sleeper coaches and one AC two tier coach should immediately be added to Ambikapur Durg Express train.
My constituency should be connected with railway. Ambikapur and
Jharsuguda be connected with railway so that it may be connected with
Kolkata and North India. It is a long standing demand of the people of my constituency that Ranchi and Barbadi be connected with railway. The irregularities within the railways should be addressed. Milk, curd, butter and ghee should be available in trains.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Kurdwadi workshop should be converted into a workshop for building broad gauge coaches. A provision of
Rs.150 crores should be made in the Rail Budget for 2008-09 in order to effect early completion of Pandharpur-Miraj broad gauge and Usmanpur-
Kurdwadi broad gauge. Sanction should be given for laying of a new railway line from Lopant to Pandharpur via Falran and Baramati and a provision of
Rs.50 crores be made for the purpose. A new railway line from Ahmednagar to Beed should be sanctioned. Pandharpur-Mumbai Chandrana Express runs three days a week. It should be made a daily train and the number of its coaches should be increased. Frequency of Bijapur-Mumbai train should be increased from present three days a week to daily. A train each from
Pandharpur to Nagpur and from Pandharpur to Tirupati should be introduced. There is a training center of RPF in Chinkhit in Kuruduwadi. A provision of Rs.50 crore should be made for its development. Mumbai
Central Railway Station should be named after the architect of the
Constitution of India, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The number of local trains in Mumbai should be increased. The frequency of airconditioned local trains should be increased to run at hourly intervals. A shopping center should be established on vacant railway land adjacent to the railway station. Railway station in Mumbai should be beautified. Bori loading is handled by Konkan railways. It should be transported throughout the country. The number of labourers employed to clean railway stations should be increased and they should be made permanent. There should be at least 5 to 8 general coaches in each train. More coaches should be attached to trains to provide reserved seats to all the people on the waiting list. MPs should be given two passes for travelling in first AC coaches and four passes for travelling in IInd AC coaches.
SHRI MANORANJAN BHAKTA: At one time a survey was conducted for laying of a 300 kilometer long railway line in Andaman-
Nicobar. This project should be revived. Andaman & Nicobar should be included in the national plan for construction of railway lines. Railway employees should be granted LTC for visiting Andaman and Nicobar. I support Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav’s proposal.
SHRI ANIRUDH PRASAD ALIAS SADHU YADAV: I support the Supplementary Demands for Grants presented by hon. Minister of
Railways and place some demands in the interest of my constituency
Gopalganj. Gauge conversion of Thave to Masrakh via Chhapra and Thave to Kaptanganj railway lines; providing Nawada halt between Ratan Sarai and Maina and making it operational at the earliest; provision of retiring room, bath room, toilets and drinking water at all the stations between
Gopalganj and Ratan Sarai and Sasamusa, Kuchaikot between Thave –
Kaptanganj line; and beautification of Gopalganj, Ratan Sarai, Didhwa
Dhuboli railway stations. SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARSTE: The demands relating to my parliamentary constituency are as follows – Anooppur-Khodhri-Khonsara railway line should be doubled. Chirmiri-Chandia passenger train should be extended up to Katni. There should be separate trains from Chirmiri to Rewa and from Vilaspur to Rewa as provided in the last budget. At present the two trains from Chirmiri to Shahdol and from Vilaspur to Shahdol are merged into one train at Shahdol and thereafter this train is plying upto Rewa. An overbridge should be constructed in Anooppur as it is a district headquarters and located on both sides of the railway line. Anooppur railway station should be concreted and drinking water should also be provided there. A foot overbridge is required in Jaithari. A plain overbridge should be constructed at Shahdol railway station. Vilaspur-Pendrar local train No.411 and 412 should be extended to Shahdol. Shaktipunj Superfast Express should be run to Vilaspur via Katni three days a week. A new Superfast
Express train should be started from Ambikapur to Mumbai via Katni. Utkal
Express, Shaktipunj Express and Durg-Gorakhpur Express should be stopped at Jaithari, Vijay Shrota and Amlai railway stations respectively. SHRI JAYSINGRAO GAIKWAD PATIL: I am speaking in support of Supplementary Demands for Grants of Railways. Maharashtra state government wants to sign an MOU with the Ministry of Railways for electrification of Ahmadnagar-Beed railway line. I request the hon. Minister of Railways to take initiative in this regard. Ghatnapur-Ambajogai railway line is just 21 kilometere long. Please make a provision of 50 crore rupees for completion of this railway line. I request the hon. Minister to make provision of Rs.100 crore for electrification of Ahmadnagar-Beed railway line and Rs.50 crore for Chatampur-Ambajogai railway line also.
SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA: An overbridge should be constructed on Raath Road near Urai station in Jhansi division of North
Central Railways. Merely 200 km. of single line is there from Kanpur to
Jhansi on Lucknow-Kanpur-Jhansi-Mumbai route. Electrification and doubling of this line should be carried out. Computerised reservation system should be started at Kalvi station. Three trains viz. Pooja Express,
Udyognagar and Udyogkarmi should be given stoppage at Urai station.
Kanpur-Jhansi intercity should be introduced on the lines of Jhansi-Kanpur
Pooja intercity express. SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK: Hon’ble Minister of Railways has stated that several new trains have been introduced and some more will be introduced. Most of the trains are running in Northern India. There were only meter gauge lines in Goa for the last several years. After much request, some broad gauge lines have been laid, however, the conditions of platforms and stations is pitiable. The trains from Goa to Hubli, Belgaon, Bangalore,
Hyderabad used to run on metre gauge lines, however, ever since the broad gauge lines have been laid, not a single train has been introduced. The
Government is requested to run the trains to the above-mentioned destinations from Vasco.
Goa is a prominent international tourist spot in the country. A µPalace on Wheels¶ train should be introduced here. Valakani is a prominent pilgrimage for Christians in Tamil Nadu where thousands of Christians come for pilgrimage. Hence, a train should be introduced between Goa and
Valakani.
A station should be constructed in Shirdi and a train should be run between Goa and Shirdi. All the shops located in the stations are given to local people. However, the licenses of shop owners from old Goa have been cancelled and shops have been allotted to the outsiders due to which the local people and especially the unemployed youth are anguished. Hence, shops should be allotted to the local people.
SHRI VIJOY KRISHNA : Hon'ble Minister of Railways is requested to take decision to lay rail line from Islampur to Bodh Gaya via
Maanpur under Danapur Rail Division ; take up doubling and electrification of Bakhtiyarpur - Rajvir Rail line; provide public amenities at Maukama,
Barh, Bakhtiyarpur, Fatuha, Athmalgotha, Khushrupur Railways stations and also to construct overbridge near the city in Barh and near the Barh
Paribhani Railway crossing.
THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI LALU PRASAD) replying to the discussion said : I thank all the Hon. Members of Parliament who participated in the discussion on Supplementary Budget. I would like to assure you that we will continue to work in the interest of the country with the cooperation of all the parties and the states. Development is not possible until we lay emphasis on infrastructure. We intend to do justice to all the states or segments, which have been left out. We would try our utmost to pay attention to your suggestions. We are extending railway network to
Jammu and Kashmir and North East as a national project. Our engineers are facing tough challenges there and they are performing their responsibilities at the risk of their lives.
We did not depend on the Central Government and contributed a surplus of twenty thousand crore rupees to the Government exchequer and also brought down other costs and expenses. Indian Railways has a network of 63000 kilometers. We are carrying out renovations, expansions, doubling of rail lines and also replacing things throughout the network. When we noticed that increase in fares won't bring us profits, we increased the volume of our business and checked evasion, theft and leakages. When I was given the charge of the Ministry of Railways, I found ample possibilities in Indian
Railways. We did not disturb the system, but posted the right officers at the right place and also took all the personnel into confidence. Through the rail network, we demonstrated to the trainees from Harvard, IIT, IIM,
Bangladesh and USA that India can also make progress. We told them that honesty, commitment for the organization and vision is needed in this regard.
All the States along with Bihar is getting justice in the regime of UPA
Government. We go to Planning Commission with your suggestions.
Planning Commission do consider these suggestions. When we conduct a survey, we are told that the project is uneconomic and it will not give any return then we have to go to the Cabinet and discuss the matter with the
State Governments on the paucity of the funds. My party is against the SEZ and we are in the favour of investment. It is good if a investor approaches the farmer directly. Railway men have contributed a lot in bringing a drastic change in the Railways. We have announced 70 days bonus for the
Railway’s employees. Besides 14 lakh permanent employees we have 13 lakh pensioners also. Lakh of people have got job directly in the Railways and crores of people gets job indirectly in the Railways. We would like to introduce new trains and maintain punctuality.
We have a dedicated freight corridor scheme. We want to cover the area from Ludhiana to all the ports in Howrah and Kolkata in the first phase and would like to cover Western corridor from Delhi to Mumbai and
Mumbai to Chennai and Chennai to Howarah in the second phase. There should be a separate corridor, double line, electrification and single system for goods trains. We would carry out loading and freight work by Goods trains on this separate network . So far 60 percent of the freight is carried by road and 40 percent is being carried by the Railways. We are trying to work out the strategy to increase the volume of freight. We have carried a freight of 437 million tonnes till October 2007 and have registered an increase of 32 million tonnes in case of freight during this period. 3867 million passengers have travelled by train in comparison to 3661 million passengers during this period. We hope that we would succeed in taking Indian Railways to the top position. We are going to provide cushioned seats within a year and would improve the toilet system by adopting new technology.
We are making an addition of 175 modern coaches, extending the area of platforms and constructing model stations. We have allocated Rs. 100 crore for passenger amenities and decentralized the power to the General
Managers to spend the funds in a phased manner. We also propose to make the platforms of the level equal to that of trains for the convenience of elderly people. The LG coach capacity of steel coach factories in Kapurthala and Chennai would be increased from 1004 to 1500. Wagon factory will now be opened in Barielly in Utter Pradesh for which land is yet to be acquired. As there is provision in NHAI, Railway Department should also have the provision under which the concerned officials should have direct negotiation with farmers to able to acquire land in time. Our emphasis will be on the electrification of all the major rail lines in the country. As the same time we would expedite the electrification of already approved projects of
Lucknow to Barabanki, Chapra, Siwan, Gopalganj and Guwahati. We propose to extend adequate facilities regarding yards, repair lines, running of goods trains and infrastructure for the development of coastal areas in south eastern zone of Railways. FCI is directed to ensure that fertilizers are imported and made available to every State in time. As regards Kerala, are definitely looking into all possibilities as to how we can extend package for that region.
There is no dearth of engineers or talent in our country. We are making arrangements for imparting training to drivers. Moreover, we are sending the officers of the rank of DRM, GM and members of Railway
Board to France for training. We are not against introduction of IT in railway. I request the Members that these demands may be passed. We would come back with a better Budget in February.
All the Supplementary Demands for Grants(Railways) were voted in full.
APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) NO. 4 BILL, 2007
The Bill was passed
P.D.T. ACHARY, Secretary-General.
© 2007 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE : It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.