(a) the details of the proposals for long term development in railways announced during the Railway Budget 2015-16;
(b) the details of the provisions made in the current year’s Rail Budget for the safety of women and senior citizens along with food and drinking water in the trains;
(c) whether the Railways propose to utilize Nirbhaya Fund for providing safety to the women in trains; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a): In the Rail Budget 2015-16 investment of ? 8.56 lakh crore over next five years has been indicated for undertaking various projects pertaining to (i) Network Decongestion (including Dedicated Freight Corridor, Electrification, Doubling including electrification and traffic facilities), (ii) Network Expansion (including electrification), (iii) National Projects (North Eastern & Kashmir connectivity projects), (iv) Safety (Track renewal,
bridge works, Rail-Over-Bridges, Rail-Under-Bridges and Signalling & Telecom), (v) Information Technology/ Research, (vi) Rolling Stock
(Locomotives, coaches, wagons production & maintenance), (vii) Passenger Amenities, (viii) High Speed Rail & Elevated corridor, (ix) Station redevelopment and logistic parks and (x) others.
(b): For strengthening of security of women passengers, measures like operationalisation of 182 Security helpline and installation of CCTV cameras in ladies compartments of suburban coaches have been pronounced in Rail Budget 2015-16.
Budgetary provision for the safety of women and senior citizens is not separately earmarked in the Railway Budget. However, many of works aimed towards improving the amenities for women and senior citizens including drinking water facility are undertaken under Passenger Amenities Head for which ? 1748.50 crore has been allocated in 2015-16.
To augment availability of clean drinking water, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been entrusted to provide Water Vending Machines (WVMs) at stations, E-catering services have been launched for food.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. Railways propose to utilize Nirbhaya Fund for providing safety to the women passengers. Certain projects like security helpline, rehabilitation of victims of trafficking and operationalising of Mobile Application have been identified for the purpose.
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