Question : TRAINS FOR RANCHI



(a) whether the Railways are aware that inordinate delay of trains to and from Ranchi is causing inconvenience to the passengers; and

(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Railways to improve the situation?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) Yes, Madam. There are 20 pairs (40 trains) Mail/Express trains that originate/terminate at Ranchi. Some of these trains, particularly those traversing through Mughalsarai-Allahabad- Ghaziabad sector have not been able to maintain satisfactory level of punctuality performance as this sector is facing severe capacity constraints due to saturated line capacity. Other than capacity constraints, the factors responsible for poor punctuality performance of some of these trains are beyond Railway’s control like public agitation and other law & order problem, natural calamities, electricity grid failures, bad weather, heavy road traffic at level crossing gates etc. In addition to the above, maintenance blocks and blocks for execution of capacity enhancement works etc. have also contributed towards loss of punctuality of trains.

(b) Following works have been sanctioned for addressing the problem of capacity constraints on Mughalsarai-Allahabad-Ghaziabad sector of North Central Railway:

(i) Construction of longer loops at certain stations on MughalsaraiGhaziabad sector.

(ii) A double line Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Mughalsarai-Allahabad-Khurja.

Besides the above, work of auto signaling on Mughalsarai-Allahabad sector is sanctioned and in progress. A third line between Mughalsarai-Allahabad has also been proposed.

In addition to the above, Railways have initiated various measures such as sensitization of staff involved in train operations, efforts to minimize asset failures, rectification of failures in shortest possible time and prioritization of preventive maintenance of assets for improving punctuality. Efforts are also being made for better coordination with state governments to deal with law and order problems.