(a) whether there was any plan to expand the capacity of railways by extending the 21 million passenger bearing capacity at present to 30 million passengers and increase the length of railway tracks which is 114000 km. at present by 20 per cent i.e. upto 138000 km.;
(b) if so, the present status thereof; and
(c) the names of the States which were to be included under the Scheme?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (c): In Rail Budget 2015-16, one of the goals set for the next five years is to expand capacity substantially and to modernize infrastructure so as to increase passenger carrying capacity from 21 million to 30 million and increase track length by 20% i.e. from 1,14,000 km to 1,38,000 km.
The status of network expansion and addition of passenger coaches in 2015-2016 (Upto January 2016) is: (i) New Lines: 619 km.; (ii) Doubling: 725 km.; (iii) Gauge Conversion:245 km; and (iv) Passenger Coaches: 3197.
Railway capacity expansion is not planned State-wise but done on the basis of capacity utilization of sections/routes and the projection of growth in traffic.
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