the mid air collision on November 12, 1996 in Haryana (b) whether such locomotives were distributed to with a view to ensure smooth and speedy settlement of the Zonal Railways or kept at ; compensation claims; (c) whether trial run have been conducted; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (d) if so, the details thereof; (c) the achievements made by the above cell so far (e) whether such locos are performing well in this regard? according to our climate; and THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION AND MINISTER (f) if so, the details thereof? OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M. IBRAHIM) : (a) to (c) It has been decided to provide THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF legal assistance to the next of kin of the victims of the RAILWAYS (SHRI SATPAL MAHARAJ) : (a) 10 aircrash in settling claims of compensation with the Passenger and 20 freight locomotives have already Saudi Airlines. A provision of Rs. 1 crore has been arrived. In addition; one passenger and two freight made for meeting the expenses in this regard. locomotives have arrived as bank of spares. (b) The passenger locomotives have been homed Licence for Granite Quarrying at Electric loco shed Ghaziabad on Northern Railway and the freight locomotives at Electric loco shed Gomoh 1048. SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA : Will the Minister of on Eastern Railway. MINES be pleased to state : (c) Yes, Sir. (a) whether the State Government of Karnataka has (d) The Oscillation trials for passenger locomotives given licences to various agencies to carry out survey at 145 kmph test speed have been completed and and to go ahead with granite quarrying the State; locomotives have been put in regular service. (b) if so, the details thereof; The freight locos are also in regular operation at (c) whether the Union Government have issued 60/65 kmph. The Oscillation trials at 110 kmph test guidelines to the States in this regard; and speed are planned shortly. (d) if so, details thereof? (e) and (f) The performance of the locos has been satisfactory except minor teething problems which are THE MINISTER OF STEEL AND MINISTER OF associated with any new technology and the same are MINES (SHRI BIRENDRA PRASAD BAISHYA) (a) and being attended to by M/s ABB. Performance of these (b) Granite has been traditionally a minor mineral as per the provisions of Section 3(e) of the Mines & locos is being closely watched. Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957 and as such the grant of mineral concessions for Granite is Collision of Matador with New Delhi-Lucknow guided by the rules framed by the respective State Shatabdi Express Governments for the purpose. The Central Government does not monitor the grant of mineral concessions for 1050. SHRI I.D. SWAMI : Will the Minister of minor minerals. RAILWAYS be pleased to state : (c) and (d) In view of the tremendous potential of (a) whether a Matador van collided with New Delhi- Granite Development, the Central Government Lucknow Shatabdi Express at Dadri near Ghaziabad on constituted Granite Development Council in 1995. The December 26, 1996; Council further constituted a Sub-Group to look into the (b) if so, the facts thereof and the action taken by issues related to development of Granite in the Country. the Government in the matter; Report of the Sub-Group on Granite Development has been presented to the Granite Development Council (c) the total number of accidents that have taken and the Conference of the State Ministers/Secretaries place at the manned and unmanned railway crossings of Mining and Geology in December, 1996. in the country during each of the three years and the number of human lives lost therein; and

ABB Electric Locomotives (d) the action taken by the Government after the recent level crossing accidents? 1049. SHRI BASU DEV ACHARIA : THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY Of SHRI TARIT BARAN TOPDAR : RAILWAYS (SHRI SATPAL MAHARAJ) : (a) and (b) Yes, SHRI HARADHAN ROY : Sir. On 26.12.96, a mini bus entered level crossing No 148 ‘C‘ between Maripat and Dadri Stations on Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to Ghaziabad- Section of Allahabad Division of state : Northern Railway at about 07.26 hours and dashed (a) the total number of ABB electric locomotives against No. 2004 Dn New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi have so far been arrived in the country; Express which was on run In the Section. The accident has been enquired into by the Private Airlines Collaboration Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, who has concluded that the accident was caused by 1051. SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : Will the unidentified passenger of mini bus who had snatched Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state : keys from the Gateman by force and opened one end (a) the names of Private Airlines which have sought of the gate in the face of approaching train. As a result permission to enter into collaborations with Foreign of this accident, five occupants of the mini bus died on Airlines; the spot. (b) whether any final decision has been taken in (c) The number of accidents at manned and this regard; and unmanned level crossings and number of human lives lost in these accidents during the last three years in the (c) if so, the details thereof? country are as under : THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M. Manned Level Unmanned Level IBRAHIM) : (a) Out of the seven scheduled private Crossings Crossings domestic airlines, only M/s Jet Airways has equity of Year No. of No. of No. of No. of foreign airiines/NRI. Recently M/s. Modiluft Ltd. has been accidents persons accidents persons permitted foreign direct investment (FDl) through GDR killed killed issue. 1993-94 12 22 54 146 The following Companies having permit/NOC to 1994-95 19 52 54 147 operate air transport service, also have foreign/NRI 1995-96 16 28 52 1 17 equity > 1. M/s. Elbee Airlines (Permit holder for air cargo (d) Some of the steps taken by the Railways to services); prevent accidents at level crossings are as under ; 2 . M/s. Bengal Air Services Ltd. (NOC holder for scheduled air services); (i) Speed breakers/rumble strips have been provided on the road approaches to 3 M/s. Lufthansa Cargo Ltd. (NOC holder unmanned level crossings so that the road for operating air cargo services); vehicles may reduce their speed. 4 M/s. T C G. Aviation Pvt. Ltd. (Application for NOC to operate air cargo services under (n) Errant R ailw ay Staff liable for causing consideration). accidents at manned level crossings are taken up under Discipline and Appeal Rules The following companies have submitted proposals and are punished. for foreign/NRI equity participation to operate domestic air services (iii) Accidents at unmanned level crossings occur due to the negligence of road users who 1. M/s. Tata Industries Ltd. cross the level crossing without observing 2. M/s. Ultima Assets & Investment (P) Ltd the precautions stipulated in Section 131 of 3. M/s. Choice Airlines the Motor Vehicles Act. Appeals are issued 4. M/s. Trans India Airlines Pvt. Ltd. from time to time to road users to cooperate with the Railway Gatemen and not to 5. M/s. Assured Airways Ltd. intimidate them while performing their duties. 6. M/s. Deccan Airways Ltd. (iv) Whistle boards are provided alongside the (b) and (c) The modalities for permitting foreign rail track on approach of level crossings to equity and NRI equity participation in the domestic air advise the train driver to whistle to warn the transport services sector are under formulation. road users about the approaching train. (v) To educate the road drivers about safety at Production of Steel unmanned level crossings, publicity campaign is launched through various media 1052. SHRI MAHABIR LAL BISHVAKARMA ; Will like quickies on TV, cinema slide, talks on the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state : radio and advertisements in newspapers and (a) the number of steel plants in the country in periodicals. which steel is being produced as per installed capacity; (vi) Surprise checks are conducted to ensure (b) whether the Government propose to modernise alertness of the Gatemen. Burnpur Steel Plant; (vii) State Governments are requested from time (c) if so, the time by which modernisation work is to time to exercise strict checks while issuing likely to be started and completed; and driving licences, especially to drivers of trucks, buses and other heavy traffic vehicles. /d) if nnt th« roacnnc JhnrolnrO