(a) whether the Railways have laid down any criteria for determining the renewal of railway tracks in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Railways have any proposal to increase the spending on renewal of railway tracks in the South Railway Zone;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Railways in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. 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 viz. traffic carried in terms of Gross Million Tonnes, incidence of rail fractures/failures, wear of rails, maintainability of track to prescribed standards etc.
(c) to (e) Track renewal works are being taken up every year on age-cum-condition basis as per need to ensure safety of passengers. Funds are being provided commensurate with availability of resources. As such, there is no proposal to increase spending on renewal of railway tracks in Southern Railway.