Question : PASSENGERAMENITIES

(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned, “Railways yet to provide basic amenities: CAG” appearing in the Hindu dated March 28, 2002 and news-item published in “Dainik Jagran” dated April 1, 2002 caption, “Yatri suvidhaaon per railway vadakhilaph: CAG”;

(b) if so, the details of facilities for the passengers promised by you before the Parliamentary Estimates Committee in 1990 alongwith the time by which these were assured to be provided;

(c) whether the Railways has failed to utilise the allocated funds for passenger amenities;

(d) if so, the allocation made for passenger amenities during the last three years, year- wise;

(e) the funds utilised during the said period, year-wise; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to provide basic amenities in trains and at Railway stations in Maharashtra and other States?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): Railways had replied to the Estimates Committee (1988-1989)-Eight Lok Sabha that it should be possible to wipe out the deficiencies in Basic Amenities, i.e. in waiting halls, benches, suitable lighting, drinking water facility, latrines, suitable platforms, booking arrangements and shady trees by 30.03.1991. Further, the recommendation (S.No. 36) in the 77th report of the Committee asked Ministry to ensure adequate drinking water facility as per set norms is made available at all stations at lease by 31.03.1991, as scheduled and the recommendation was accepted.

(c) to (e): Expenditure of Rs. 115.25 crore, 136.50 crore and 130.38 crore (Upto February, 2002) was incurred for Passenger Amenity works during 1999-2000, 2000- 2001 and 2001-2002 as against the allotment of Rs. 130 crore, 200 crore and 190 crore during these years. In the course of the year, in view of the likely reduction in internal resources, as a matter of abundant caution, the Railways are sometimes directed to restrict their commitments to the extent funds are likely to be available. This results in lesser expenditure being actually incurred on Works in all Plan Heads including “Passenger Amenities”.

(f): Every year, Railways are making high allotments for passenger amenity works in its endeavour to provide adequate amenities as per laid down norms at all stations including those in Maharashtra. Railways endeavour is to eliminate the deficiencies and plan the Annual Works Programme accordingly. For the current year, the allotment for Passenger Amenity works is Rs. 200 crore. Further, to celebrate the 150th year of Railway services, the coming year has been dedicated to ‘rail traveller’ and has been declared as the “Passenger Amenities Year”.

Measures like introduction of Jan Shatabdi coaches with upper class like features in second class coaches, fitment of modern UIC type vestibules, provision of user-friendly modular toilets, polyvinyl flooring inside coaches, introduction of LHB type coaches with state of the art passenger amenities and commencement of indigenous manufacture of such coaches, pest control in all coaches through specialised agencies, providing thorough cleaning facilities at nominated stations under “cleaning train stations scheme”, provision of 110 Volts electrical fittings in place of conventional 24 Volts, renovation of rakes in between overhauls, mid-life rehabilitation of coaches of 12-15 years age group, monitoring of passenger amenity fittings through “zero missing fitting” etc., have been taken for improvement of amenities in trains.