LOK SABHA

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

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 / Asvina 30, 1930 (Saka) ______

FELICITATION BY THE SPEAKER

Re: Congratulating the Team of Scientists and Technicians of ISRO

regarding Launch of Chandrayaan –I

and

Congratulating the Indian Cricket Team for their Victory

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, the Indian Scientists today have achieved another great landmark which has made the country proud when

India’s first unmanned moon spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 – embarked on a two-year mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota

Andhra Pradesh, at about 6.22 a.m., on board the indigenously-built rocket,

PSLV-C11.

I made it a point to get up and saw it. It is very exhilarating to see that wonderful launch. This historic event marks India’s entry into select band of lunar explorer countries and its growing stature as an emerging space power.

Let us on this occasion join together to congratulate Dr. G. Madhavan

Nair, Chairman ISRO and his dedicated team of Scientists and Technicians whose untiring efforts have made this possible.

We wish them further and further glorious successes.

Hon. Members, Indian cricket team’s emphatic 320 run victory, their biggest ever against the visiting Australian team at Mohali, Punjab yesterday, is a matter of great pride and joy for all of us. Let us compliment the splendid performance by the Indian Team and wish them all success in their ongoing test series and forthcoming One Day International Matches.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE MEMBER FROM HOUSE

As Shri Abdullakutty, M.P. continued to interrupt the proceedings of the House and disregarded the Chair’s direction not to display placard in the

House, the Speaker directed him under Rule 373 of Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha to withdraw from the House for the day.

Thereafter Shri Abdullakutty withdrew from the House.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTERS

(i) Re: Recent developments in Srilanka

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PRANAB

MUKHERJEE): I rise to apprise this august House of the recent developments in Sri Lanka.

The situation in Sri Lanka is of serious concern to the Government, in particular the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North of Sri Lanka.

We are concerned about the plight of the civilians caught in the hostilities and the growing number of internally displaced persons. We have emphasised to the Sri Lankan Government that the safety and the security of the civilians must be safeguarded at ail costs and that food and essential supplies be allowed to reach them unhindered. We have been assured that the safety and wellbeing of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka will be taken care of. In this connection, Member of Parliament and Senior Adviser to the

President of Sri Lanka, Hon'ble Basil Rajapaksa is due to visit India shortly.

Let me reiterate our conviction that there in no military solution to the ethnic conflict. What is required in Sri Lanka is a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka respecting the legitimate rights of the minorities including the Tamil community. The rights and the welfare of the Tamil community of Sri Lanka should not get enmeshed in the ongoing hostilities against the LTTE. We encourage the government of Sri Lanka to continue to nurture the democratic process in the

Eastern Province as well.

The government has also taken up with the Sri Lankan Government the need to ensure the safety of our fishermen. While it is important for our fishermen to respect the International Maritime Boundary Line, we have impressed on the Sri Lankan Navy to desist from firing on Indian fishermen.

Our two governments have agreed to work towards concluding practical arrangements to prevent such incidents.

(ii) Re: The Successful Launch of Chandrayaan-1 Spacecraft,

India’s First Unmanned Scientific Mission to the Moon

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S

OFFICE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF

PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI

PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN): I am happy to inform this august House that

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C11 successfully launched

Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, India's first unmanned scientific mission to the moon, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The launch of PSLV-

C11 was the fourteenth flight in the PSLV series. The launch vehicle systems have performed satisfactorily. The main scientific objective of Chandrayaan-1 mission is to orbit around the moon and carry out the high resolution remote sensing for preparing the 3- dimensional atlas of the moon and in carrying out chemical and mineralogical mapping of the lunar surface. The spacecraft has eleven scientific instruments from India and from universities and laboratories of

European Space Agency, USA and Bulgaria.

Today, Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft has been placed into an elliptical intermediate orbit of 255 x 22,860 km around the earth. In the coming days, the spacecraft will be maneuvered using its own onboard propulsion system to attain an orbit around the moon which is nearly 4,00,000 km away from the earth.

I am sure that this august House will join me in congratulating the

Chairman and the entire team at ISRO who were involved in the realization and management of the complex India's unmanned scientific mission to the moon.

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) SHRI N.S.V. CHITTHAN laid a statement regarding need to

issue a commemorative stamp in honour of Late Shri Viswanatha

Doss, a great patriot and stage actor of pre-Independence era.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Deputy Speaker. (ii) SHRI SANTOSH GANGWAR laid a statement regarding need to

consider Izzatnagar in Bareilly as an alternative site for setting up

Rail Coach Factory proposed to be set up in Raebareli, Uttar

Pradesh.

(iii) YOGI ADITYA NATH laid a statement regarding need to accord

the status of a Central University to Gorakhpur University.

(iv) SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA laid a statement

regarding need to provide pilgrimage facilities to the people

desirous of visiting the Mausoleum of Prithvi Raj Chauhan in

Afghanistan.

(v) DR. SATYANARAYAN JATIYA laid a statement regarding

need to release power from Central Quota and Central assistance

for tiding over situation arisen due to shortage of water in Madhya

Pradesh.

(vi) SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA laid a statement regarding need

to extend social security benefits to the taxpayers in the country.

(vii) SHRI P. MOHAN laid a statement regarding need to lift the ban

imposed on catching of Sea Cucumbers. (viii) SHRI SHAILENDRA KUMAR laid a statement regarding need

to make available adequate quantity of D.A.P. and A.P. fertilizers

in the Co-operative Societies and markets.

(ix) SHRI ALOK KUMAR MEHTA laid a statement regarding need

to start Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana in Samastipur, Bihar.

(x) SHRI S. D. MANDLIK laid a statement regarding need to issue

stringent guidelines for the effective implementation of

Agricultural loan waiver scheme.

(xi) SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU laid a statement regarding

need to take steps to ameliorate the plight of power loom weavers

of Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh facing unemployment due

to crisis in power loom industry.

SUPPLEMENTARY DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (RAILWAYS) –

2008-2009

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: The conversion work of Gadag –

Bagalkot Gauge is said to be over long back. Therefore, I urge the

Government to start the operations of passenger trains on this line. The work on -Ankola new line should be expedited. At least one night train should be introduced between Hubli-. It should be ensured that local people should get better opportunities in Recruitment for Group ‘D’ posts in S.W.R. Demand of extension of -Hubli Intercity till

Dharwad to be honoured.

SHRI SANTOSH GANGWAR: I have come to know that it is not possible to set up a proposed Rail coach factory at Rai Bareilly in Uttar

Pradesh. Thus I propose Izzatnagar under my constituency Bareilly, Uttar

Pradesh for the purpose. This place has adequate infrastructure and land and there is no need to acquire land from farmers. The work could be started immediately.

SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY: I request to increase number of compartments in all the passenger-trains running in the -Sealdah

Section, Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway, add one additional chair-car to the both the UP & Down Bhagirathi Express train running daily in this section. One additional coach should be added to 112 Down Lalgola-

Sealdah Passenger train. The period of service of two counters of the

Computerized Reservation Centre of Court Station is inadequate. Therefore, at least one counter of the said Computerized

Reservation Centre is brought into operation with immediate effect. A train named “Hazarduari Express” should be introduced in the Sealdah-Lalgola

Section, Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway immediately. SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID: people have a long pending demand that a Train service from to Lord Aiyappa Temple

(Sabarimala) for pilgrims from Chennai, , and

Mumbai should go via Tamil Nadu. The Train has to be routed via Dindugal,

Vathalagundu, Periyakulam, Theni, Bodi, Kumbam, Koodalur and to the base station as S abarimala pilgrims are increasing in large numbers. I request for opening of Railway Parcel Booking Counters in all the centers as lot of tea plants/spice/coffee plants/paddy and coconut farmers will be benefitted along with Sabarimala pilgrims.

SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN: I support the Supplementary

Demands for Grants for Railways for the Financial Year 2008-09. After assumption of UPA at the Centre the rail fares has not increased even once.

In recent times, the passenger traffic also increases and earnings also increased. has created revenue surplus of Rs. 68,812 crore.

Railway Ministry has handed over 10 plots to RLDA in various cities and the same is going to fetch Rs. 4,000 crore to Indian Railways. In my Palani

Constituency, Oddanchataram town is an important place and the same is on

NH 209 and it will be very useful to construct a Shopping Mall on the southern side of this NH and it is also very profitable for Railways. Our

Government has formulated an “Integrated Railway Modernisation Plan”. Most of the Superfast Express trains are not having proper toilet facilities.

In Tamil Nadu, important trains do not have proper and clean toilets facilities. We had announced E-Ticketing System and also permitted to reserve three months in advance. I urge upon the Railway Ministry to complete the Fund Location Survey for the new project without further delay. I request the Railway Ministry to allocate additional funds for completion of the work between Palani – Pothanur and the whole stretch may be converted as a BG line. I congratulate the UPA Government for implementation of 6th Pay Commission but the Group ‘C’ Engineers feel deprived that the 6th Pay Commission have totally ignored the technical staff. They have requested for nominating an Engineer in the Anomaly

Committee to upgrade the Group ‘C’ Engineers equal to Nurses and

Teachers in Railways.

SHRI HARIBHAU JAWALE: I want to congratulate Hon’ble

Railway Minister for introducing New Trains for and my constituency Jalgaon. The people have demanded to start a train from

Bhusawal to Mumbai CST. I request to provide One First Class AC Coach each for Express (2779/2780) and (2627/2628). I also request to provide some essential amenities to Nandura and Bodwad

Station and to provide stoppage at these station for trains Nagpur-Pune (2136/2135), Azad-Hind Express (2130/2129), Gondwana Express

(2405/2406) Bilaspur-Pune (2850), Nagpur-Pune Garib Rath (21/4) and

Amravati-Mumbai CST (2112/2111). The Hon’ble Minister may please upgrade the pay scale of Loco Running staff. I request to provide some additional benefits to compensate the loss of health permanently during the working conditions on service.

SHRI SANAT KUMAR MANDAL: The work of the second phase double line along the section between Ghutiari Sharif and Canning Railway

Stations is yet to be undertaken. It would definitely boost the economy of the region as well as the Railways. The encroachments around the Canning station is to be cleared on permanent basis as the encroachments cleared previously have come again there. The Ghotiarisheriff is a pilgrimage place being visited by Muslim community people from various parts of the country thrice in a year to mark their religious functions. The Government should take necessary steps for expeditious completion of the doubling of

Baruipur-Jaynagar section.

SHRIMATI K. RANI: I support the Railway Budget. The Minister of Railways has reduced the fares of all classes of travel and introduced eight new ‘Garib Raths’ for the poor people. The existing Garib Rath to

Chennai departs from should be run twice a week. Sufficient funds may kindly be allotted immediately for newly created Salem Division.

‘Releasing tickets’ from the Emergency Quota for the Members of

Parliament are not honoured by the DCM Office, Salem. Moreover, the phones of the Divisional Office are not picked up even the Fax machine is also switched off. Please allocate more funds for Salem-Karur Braod Gauge

Project, Sort out all other outstanding issues early and complete this project soon.

SHRI RAKESH SINGH: The most important project for the development of this region is Jabalpur Gondia gauge conversion work. The

NDA Government had sanctioned this project and provided Rs. 109.32 crores for this Rs. 511.86 crore project of about 265 km. The weekly train from Jabalpur to Jammu should be run atleast four days a week. A direct train should be run from Jabalpur to Amritsar. The world famous tourist spot Bhedaghat should be equipped with all the facilities. Kachpura station should be developed with full passenger facilities and Madan Mohan station should be developed on the model of Habibganj () station. Jabalpur-

Delhi Sampark Kranti train should run daily. Also, a direct train should run between Jabalpur to . A new train should be introduced from

Jabalpur to Siwan via Allahabad-Chhapra. Chitrakoot Express from Jabalpur to Lucknow should be extended to Uttranchal. There is an urgent need to introduce a new train from Jabalpur to Bangalore. Direct train should be introduced between Jammu to Thiruvanthapuram and Train No. 6360

Rajender Nagar Ernakulum should run daily. A weekly or bi-weekly train should run from Jabalpur to Goa. Railway Recruitment Office should be opened at Jabalpur. Decision should be taken immediately for electrification of -Jabalpur-Kotni route. Jabalpur-Jaipur Express should be extended to

Ajmer. Stoppage should be provided at Pannagar station for Mahakaushal,

Rewanchal, Shaktipunj, Amarkantak, Janata Express and Jabalpur-Rewa link city. Computerized reservation should be provided at Pannagar station.

Either an underbridge or an over bridge should be constructed at Khitauli railway crossing. Stoppage at Sihora station be provided for Gondwana

Express and Amarkantak Express and Mahanagri Express. A new train should be introduced between Katni and Udaipur via Kota-Chhittorgarh.

There is an urgent need for an inter city express train from Katni to Bilaspur.

Stoppage should be provided at Madhav Nagar station in Katni for Indore-

Bilaspur train. Stoppage should be provided at Salimnabad station for

Jabalpur-Rewa intercity, Bina-Bhopal and Jabalpur-Lucknow Chitrakoot

Express. Rail route should be provided from Jabalpur to Damoh. Laying of tracks should be started immediately between Damoh to Kundalpur. SHRI K. SUBBARAYAN: The projects between Villupuram and

Katpadi, Tiruchi-Nagore-Karaikal, Manamadurai-Virudungar etc. and the proposed Nelli-Thenkasi and Madurai-Bodi gauge conversion, will suffocate and suffer a sever set back with the financial crunch. The budgetary support offered for the much envisaged Coimbatore-Dindigul gauge conversion is quite distressing, inflicting fear of eternal incompletion. I urge you to enhance the financial support for this project of Coimbatore-Dindigul gauge conversion as a one time, allocation to complete positively before 31.3.09.

The doubling of track between Coimbatore, North junction and Irugur be expedited to complete before 31.3.09. To address the growing traffic congestion in the fast developing city of Coimbatore, Circular track around the city and shuttle train services between Coimbatore and Tiruppur and

Commuter services in the Plolachi Palakkad-Mettupalayam line should be introduced. A new railway link between Tiruppur and Karur through

Kangeyam and Vellakoil will provide a short distance route between

Tiruppur and Thoothukudi port. Railway over bridge replacing the level crossing of Eachanari on the NG 209 is the immediately requirement. A

ROB at Avarampalaym Railway level crossing requires a serious and immediate consideration. Frequent or hourly train services between

Coimbatore-Erode, Coimbatore-Mettupalayam, Coimbatore-Palakkad, Podanur-Pollachi should be introduced. New passenger train services connecting Coimbatore with Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur,

Pudukkottai, Sivagangai and , passenger services to

Tirupathi and Tiruvananthapuram from Coimbatore exclusive night train from Coimbatore to Bangalore may be considered immediately with utmost favour. In addition I urge upon you to bring Combatore junction,

Coimbatore North junction, Peelamedu station, Singanaliur Station and

Podanur Junction under the master plan development strategy. State of the art infrastructure facility should be provided at the Coimbatore Station.

SHRI M.S.K. BHAVANI RAJENTHIRAN: I had already expressed my views about the B.G. Line up to . We had some more trains which were very useful to our people. They are the

(1)Rameswaram to Chennai Egmore Express (2) Ramewsaram to Chennai

Egmore Mail via Mayavaram (3) Rameswaram to Coimbatore Express via

Madurai and Dindigul and (4) Rameswaram to Palghat passenger via

Madurai and Dindigul (5) Rameswaram and Trichy (6) Rameswaram to

Madurai Express. I urge upon our Railway Minister to sanction these trains to our areas, since the Sethu Express from Rameswaram to Chennai does not stop in apt time in our main stations and also to sanction the Rameshwaram to Varanasi Express(2) Rameswaram to Bhubaneswar Express. I also urge upon our U.P.A. Government to take immediate and urgent steps to stop the killing of poor Tamils in Sri Lanka and also the fishermen in our

Rameswaram Coastal area.

SHRI BRAJESH PATHAK: I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Railways for making the Railways turn around. The Railways has started new projects in the difficult terrain like Jammu & Kashmir which reflects that the Railways can meet any challenge. The Railways is playing an important role in ferrying the passengers to their destinations in the back drop of the crisis being faced by the Civil Aviation in the time of economic recession.

Many leather units are functioning in the industrial city of Unnao. I request the Government to start a daily express train for Delhi from Unnao.

SHRI B. MAHTAB: Railways which are the most preferred mode of transport for the masses in India has a number of commitments to provide safe and dependable train service to the passengers and ensure adequate passenger amenities in trains and at railway stations. This includes provision of clean and hygienic surroundings both at railway stations and in trains. But, I am sorry to mention that Indian Railways are the most dirtiest rail services ever found in this world. Even today, in this 21st century, cleanliness is largely viewed as a secondary activity, subservient to other activities such as maintenance. Why can’t a coach be certified fit for next journey as is being done by maintenance for cleanliness activities also.

Once this is done responsibility can also be fixed. Similarly maintenance of cleanliness in the circulating area outside the station building and on platforms, inside the station premises is urgent as well as necessary. But everywhere it is found wanting. It is because there is no systematic mechanism in place to monitor it. There is no accountability and there is no responsibility. Failure to prevent unauthorized persons from entering station premises has compounded the problem. Railways have no mechanism to assess or control the level of expenditure on maintenance of cleanliness in stations and in trains nor there is any policy on waste management.

Railways have neither developed any standards as benchmarks nor formulated any norms at zonal level for ensuring cleanliness and sanitation in railway stations, trains and tracks. Why can’t you rope in reputed NGOs for the job of cleanliness and sanitation on Indian Railways? Further, I want to know how many stations have been equipped with CCTV cameras and are they effective in promoting sanitation on the railway premises? Do you have any effective mechanism in place for regulation of crowd in railway stations? In 2004-05, Railways carried around 600 million tonne of freight comprising 64 percent of the total revenues earned by the Railways. This proves that freight operations need to be strengthened for profitability of

Railways. A sound, safe and efficient modern infrastructure is required for smooth passenger as well as freight operations. This can only by done by upgrading the existing infrastructure which may improve the passenger and freight operations. Dedicated freight corridors and their feeder routes are also required to be strengthened and improved.

Increase in the axle load is an area of concern. This increase was permitted with the objective to carry more tones per wagon thereby reduce the unit cost of operations by saving on locomotives and additional wagons.

These were to be done duly ensuring safety in train operations. However, are you aware about the cost implication involved in running the freight trains with increased load. Have you made any study on the effect of costs and earnings? It has also been found that wagons were loaded to the extent of 24.49 tonne per axle as against the permitted axle load of 22.82 tonne.

This has occurred in rail fractures and weld fractures on Central and South

Eastern Railway. What steps you have taken? Have you fixed any responsibility? Have you taken the erring staff into task? There is not a single instance? Yet you say you would take care of safety. High interest rates have begun taking a toll on key infrastructure projects. The Government accepted that there will be a massive 50 per cent increase in the financial estimate for modernization of new station which are to be built of high world standard. Bhubaneswar station was identified along with and Bangalore. But what is the progress? Modernization programme is mired in controversy. The unmanned level crossings are known to have taken a heavy toll almost every year. Isn’t the Government aware that technology has been developed under which gates can be closed automatically when a train approaches? The pedestrians can be warned through an audio system. If the gate is not closed then train will be stopped.

Has any attempt been made by the Government to procure the technology to operate selected gates as a part of the pilot project.

Construction of second bridge over river KATHAJODI in Cuttack which comes under East Coast Railways is delayed. It was supposed to be completed by this year end but now more than one year is required. Can the hon. Minister assure us, the exact date and time by which the second bridge over river KATHAJODI will be made available for operation. The second opening of Cuttack Railway station is inoperational because there is no direct connectivity to the main road. How could this happen? I urge upon the Railways to provide adequate funds to acquire the land for the approach road at the earliest so that the investment that is made for the second opening to Cuttack Railway station is operational.

SHRI SHRINIWAS DADASAHEB PATIL: I request that the frequency of Kolhapur- weekly train be increased to three times a week. A halt at Railway Station be sanctioned to Kolhapur-

Ahmedabad Express. Vasco-Hazarat Nizamuddin Goa Express is having only 3 A boggie. Two more 3 A boggies be attached, as this train is the most popular train from North Indians to visit pilgrimage Shirdi and tourist destination Goa. Kolhapur-Rajkot holiday special train be run on regular basis as a weekly train with a further extension up to Dwarka (i.e. Kolhapur-

Dwarka). Pune-Ernakulam Poorna Express to be extended upto Trivandrum or Kanyakumari. Kolhapur-Banglore Rani Chennamma Express be run as

Pune-Bangalore Rani Chennamma Express. Timings of Kolhapur-Mumbai

Sahyadri Express be changed. The train should reach Mumbai at 9:00 a.m. in the morning. The return journey timing from Mumbai to Kolhapur be kept the same. Pune-Lucknow train to start from Kolhapur and be named as

Shahu Express or Shahu Maharaj Express or Karveer Express. Further, weather shed over loading/unloading platform at Karad Railway Station;

Extension of platform no.2 at Karad Railway Station to facilitate accommodation of 22 boggie express train like Goa Express; Doubling of Pune--Kolhapur section and to expedite the Karad-Chiplun new B.G.

Railway line Survey be completed.

DR. PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI: I draw the attention of the hon. Minister to know whether the Railways proposed to formulate a high priority action plan for modernization, development and infrastructural expansion of the railway network. In spite of my request work on the flyover on Satyanagar and Sahidnagar and also Beerosurendrasai nagar in

Mancheswar flyover is highly delayed. Most of the people there are dying because of the level crossing. So, I would like to draw the attention of the

Minister to immediately materialize this sanction. The new building of East

Coast Zone is already constructed in my constituency. The same is to be materialized that the building is inaugurated immediately in consultation with the Chief Minister. The Khurda-Bolangir railway link is high delayed inspite of people’s agitation. The Central Government is highly neglecting.

This is the only railway link from Southern Orissa to Northern Orissa. The hon. Minister has already assured for expansion of Bhubaneswar Railway

Station to the international one and it is the high time to start the work immediately. SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR: There has been a turnaround in Railways performance. A number of new initiatives have been taken such as, through my constituency, a daily inter city express train between Dehri-on-Son &

Patna, a survey of the only track upto Bihta, addition of a Pantry Car in the

Mahabodhi Express between Gaya and New Delhi. Most impotently, the inauguration of a railway line in J&K is a wonderful first for which the

Railway Minister deserves congratulations. I would, however, sound a world of caution about the need to guard the Railways against the ill effects of the global economics meltdown. Further, I would however request the hon. Minister to kindly approve the declaration of Godiha Halt on the Grand

Chord section of the East Central Railway near Rafiganj by station in public interest. I also request the Government to kindly advise the concerned authorities to take up work for expeditions action on the MGR for the

Nabinagar 1000 MW Thermal Power Project.

SHRI HANSRAJ G. AHIR: Railways is the lifeline of the people of this country but the people of my constituency are devoid of its benefits. I, therefore, request for electrification of Ballarshah to Chandafort-Gondia railway line alongwith doubling this route. I also request him to declare

Chandafort Railway Station as a model Railway Station. It is also requested to construct an ORB (Babupeth) on this railway line by providing 100 per cent share. Further, a shuttle train from Ballarshah Station to Nagpur be run twice a day and also restore the train running between Ballarshah and

Ghugush. I also request him to extend Madras-Durg-Bilaspur train upto

Howrah. Further, a booking counter at Padoni Railway Station in my constituency be started and loading and unloading facility should be initiated at Tadaki Railway Station.

SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA: The Inter City-Pooja

Express, running between and Lucknow in the Jhansi Division of the

North Central Railway should have a stoppage at Moth Station so that the villagers of hundreds of villages can be benefited by this train. A railway overbridge should be constructed at Etah Station and the height of platform

No.2 should be increased. There is no direct train for Delhi for the passengers living in the area between Jhansi and Kanpur. Therefore, the

‘Shramshakti’ running between Delhi and Kanpur should be extended upto

Jhansi so that the villagers living in Pukhrama, Kalanji, Urai, Etah, Moth and Chirgaon may travel upto Delhi. There is no train for Allahabad from

Urai, Kalanji and Etah in Jhansi Division of the North Central Railway.

Therefore, I urge that the train running between Jhansi and Bairangpur should be extended upto Allahabad. The single line from Jhansi to Kanpur should be doubled. SHRI BRAHMANANDA PANDA: The Railway Ministry should give special priority for development of Railway Infrastructure in Orissa. I would draw the attention of the Honourable Minister that special priority be given to Orissa for survey of new railway lines, doubling of Railway lines, early completion of on-going projects in Orissa, increase of frequency of

Express trains and introduction of pantry cars etc. Railway Ministry is not allocating sufficient funds to Orissa for early completion of on-going projects. We are demanding for early completion of Khurda-Bolangir Road which is a Tribal dominated area, similarly early completion of Haridaspur-

Paradeep Railway line and so on. So also doubling of Khurda-Puri line.

SHRI GIRDHARI LAL BHARGAVA: The hon. Railway Minister had announced four new trains for the state of in the Railway

Budget but I am sorry to say that not even a single train out of the above has yet started running.

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI LALU PRASAD) replying said: Several members have placed some demands before us regarding their constituency and the state they belong to. I would like to assure the hon’ble Members that proper action would be taken on all the suggestions, they have put forward. The Central Govt. have made available

526 crore and 170 thousand rupees as supplementary demands for grants specially for the centrally sponsored schemes during the current-financial year. Our earnings have risen by 25 thousand 6 crore rupees during the year

2007-08. After implementation of Fifth Pay Commission recommendations, the financial position of Railways deteriorated while this time around, we not only successfully paid the bonus, but we have made the payment of last years’ arrears of bonus also. During the first half of the present financial year, the transportation of goods has been projected at about 401.9 millions of tonne and the earnings from the passenger travelling has registered an increase of 12.9%. The loading of iron-ore to be exported during the month of October has come down sharply. Transportation of cement and steel has also decreased and the supply of raw material needed for their production has also been reduced. These industries have been bearing the brunt of recession being faced by all of countries world over. Safety of goods and providing safe passage to the passengers is among our top priorities. The number of railway accidents has come down to a nominal 194 during 2007-

08 from 473 of 2000-01. For facilitating the loading/unloading of goods and providing better facilities to the traders and for renovation and repair of goods--sheds and terminals, ten proposals are underway. There is a proposal to lannch a pilot project for reserving ticket for suburban services of

Mumbai and Channai through mobile phone. Proposals are under consideration for laying new railway lines from Parasnath to Madhuban,

Bilaspur to Kullu and Manali via Leh, Nizamabad –Adilabad and conducting survey for gauge-conversion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar Line. In addition to that, Re-generating-breaking Project being utilized in Mumbai suburban railways has been named for earning the carbon-credits. Indian railways has been successfully running electric double-stack container train. The foreign experts have also sung laurels in praise of this train.

The Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) – 2008-2009 was

voted in full.

THE APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) NO. 4 BILL, 2008

The Bill was passed.

THE AIRPORTS ECONOMIC REGULATORY AUTHORITY

OF INDIA BILL, 2007

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL

AVIATION (SHRI PRAFUL PATEL): Moving the motion for consideration of the Bill said: The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 and the Aircraft Rules, 1937 were amended in 2004 to enable the participation of the private sector in airports. As a result of this Greenfield airports have come up at Bangalore and Hyderabad in public private partnership mode. A similar airport was already full operational at Cochin and therefore it is essential to ensure that tariffs are commensurate with the level of services rendered. It is imperative that an independent regulatory authority be set up to regulate tariffs of aeronautical services. Last year, Airports Economic

Regulatory Authority Bill, 2007 was introduced in this House for setting up of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority as well as for establishing of an Appellate tribunal to decide disputes between the stake holders. The Bill was considered by the Standing Committee, which made several recommendations relate to inclusion of non-aeronautical services in the ambit of AERA; fuel supply and role of AERA and its functions. As regards regulation of non-aeronautical services, such services are usually provided through concessionaires. Further, normally there are competing outlets at an airport in respect of non-aeronautical services. These services are therefore, not monopolistic in nature. As such, there is no need for regulation of charges of non-aeronautical services by AERA. One of the factors relevant for determining the tariff for the aeronautical services could be revenue generated by the airport operator through non-aeronautical services. In other words, the revenue generated therefore may be taken as a factor relevant for determination of charges for aeronautical services by AERA. In the last, with the passage of this Bill, we would be in a position to establish an

autonomous regulatory regime for the expanding airport infrastructure sector

in the country.

DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA: There are no night-landing facilities

in the airports of the border-States, particularly, in North-East India

including Imphal. As a result of this we cannot come back late from our

constituency to the capital. The same is the situation with Bhuwaneshwar

and some other smaller airports. In would like to appeal to the hon. Minister

to provide night-landing facilities in all these airports, particularly, the

border-States including Imphal.

SHRI PRAFUL PATEL replying said: Some of the suggestions that

have been made by the hon. Member are important. However, the Bill has

express provisions to include more airports within the regulatory framework

as and when required. I would request that the Bill, as placed, be passed.

The Bill, as amended, was passed.

P.D.T. ACHARY, Secretary-General.

© 2008 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.