(a) the current status on the progress of creation of Rayagada Division;
(b) the time by when Rayagada Division would be operational along with the detailed plan outlay; and
(c) the details of the new trains that have been planned once the Rayagada Division is created?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER
AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) To (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2612 BY SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.03.2021 REGARDING CREATION OF RAYAGADA DIVISION
(a): Subsequent to the approval by the Government for setting up of a new Railway Division with its headquarters at Rayagada, Chief Transportation Planning Manager, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar (CTPM/ECoR/BBS) was nominated as Nodal officer from ECoR to undertake planning and preparatory work for setting up and operationalisation of new Rayagada Division. Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted by ECoR and is under examination. In meantime, an Umbrella work titled “Creation of new South Coast Railway Zone and new Rayagada Division in East Coast Railway” has been included in Budget 2020-21 under Capital Expenditure at an estimated cost of `170 Cr.
(b): As the DPR is still under examination, no time-frame can be fixed for operationalisation of the new Division.
(c): Prior to discontinuation of regular services to contain the spread of Covid-19 w.e.f. 23.03.2020, Rayagada was being adequately served by 23 pairs of Mail/Express and 05 pairs of passenger trains. Introduction of additional train is not feasible, at present, due to operational and resource constraints. However, introduction of trains is an ongoing process in Indian Railways.
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