Question : HALT STATIONS

(a) the guidelines/criteria laid down by the Railways for opening of halt stations for superfast trains running in the country;

(b) whether the Railways have received proposals for opening of halt stations in various States/regions;

(c) if so, the details of such proposals received during each of the last three years and the current year along with the time by which the said proposals are likely to be approved/implemented;

(d) whether the Railways have removed/propose to remove halts/stoppages at various Stations for Trains running in Kerala; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1124 BY SHRI K.C.VENUGOPAL, SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE, SHRI RAJAN VICHARE, SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA, SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL AND SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.07.2014 REGARDING HALT STATIONS.

(a) The extant policy guidelines for provision of stoppage of trains at station inter-alia stipulates that the minimum number of tickets to be sold at the station so as to recover the cost of stoppage (which ranges from Rs. 4376/- to Rs. 5396/- depending upon traction, composition and other factors) should be 40 or more per day per train for sleeper class for a distance of 500 kms. or its equivalent in terms of cost for mixed class of passengers like AC, General and distance (multiple of 100 kms.) toward/from destination/originating stations of the train. The cost of stoppage is based on the prices of 2005-06. The policy also provides for additional criteria like population, significance, new developments taking place in and around the station, nature & occupancy of the train whose stoppage has been demanded, operational constraints and effect of the stoppage on the line capacity of the section and punctuality of trains, passing time of the train at station in question and availability of alternative service(s) and occupancy thereof etc. Halt stations are opened on public demand if found financially viable and
feasible from operating and engineering points of view. Opening of halt stations is also considered on passenger amenity grounds.

(b)& (c) Requests for provision of stoppage of trains at various stations and opening of halt stations are received at various levels of Railway administration, a compendium of which is not maintained. These are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken within the purview of the extant policy guidelines. Experimental stoppages for specified period are, however, provided to assess the need for the stoppage and its impact on train operation.

(d) & (e) Review of experimental stoppages is an on-going process on Indian Railways and it has been decided to extend all experimental stoppages provided on Indian Railways, including those located in the state of Kerala, upto 30th September, 2014.