Question : Improving Railway Tracks

(a) the route on which worst train accident took place in the country during the current year;

(b) whether the Union Government has conducted survey of all those rail routes which are extremely accident prone and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether railway tracks on such routes were found in dilapidated state;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the total kilometres of railway tracks which are in dilapidated state; and

(e) whether the work to improve such railway tracks is being carried out and if so, the time by which the said work is likely to be completed?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 550 BY SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA, SHRI NAGAR RODMAL AND SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.12.2015 REGARDING IMPROVING RAILWAY TRACKS

(a) : On 04.08.2015, 29 lives were lost, one passenger was grievously injured and 44 passengers suffered simple injuries when eleven coaches of train no. 11071 Kamayani Express and seven coaches of train no. 13201 Rajendranagar – Lokmanyatilak Express derailed while both trains were on run between Khirkiya and Bhiringi stations of Itarsi – Khandwa section of Bhopal Division of West Central Railway.

(b) : Asset monitoring for safety is a continuous activity and is undertaken on a regular basis as per laid down criteria.

(c) to (e) : Do not arise. Track renewal is a continuous activity, which is to be undertaken as and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal on the basis of criteria laid down in Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual which are as under:
(i) Incidence of rail fractures/failures.
(ii) Wear on rail.
(iii) Maintainability of track to prescribed standards.
(iv) Expected Service Life in terms of Gross Million Tonnes Carried.
(v) Plan based renewals.
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