(a) whether the Railways maintain standard quality of passenger amenities in small town railway stations;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Railways has formulated any action plan to improve passenger amenities in the country as a whole; and
(d) if so, the details thereof particularly Bidar and Gulbarga?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1831 BY SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING PASSENGER AMENITIES
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Railway stations are classified based on station earnings and outward passenger footfall at the station. The norms for Minimum Essential Amenities as specified in the comprehensive instructions on passenger amenities, based on the category of the station, and issued by Ministry of Railways, are ensured at all stations.
(c) Improvement /Augmentation of amenities at Railway Station is an ongoing and continuous process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds. Foot over bridge and High level platform are now included in Minimum Essential Amenities for all category of stations on broad gauge. Priority is accorded to the higher category station over lower category station while sanctioning and executing the work of raising the height of platform and provision of Foot over bridge.
(d) Bidar railway station has been provided with all the amenities as per the norms for Minimum Essential Amenities for ‘NSG-4’ category railway station such as cloak room, enquiry counter, Parking area with light, water coolers, waiting room, separate waiting room for ladies, computer based public address system, electronic train indication board and touch screen enquiry system etc.
Gulbarga railway station has been provided with all the amenities as per the norms for ‘NSG-3’ category railway station such as retiring room, cloak room, enquiry counter, Parking area with light, water vending machine, water coolers, foot over bridges, waiting room, separate waiting room for ladies, computer based public address system, electronic train indication board and touch screen enquiry system etc.
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