(a) the details of recommendations made by the Shri Sam Pitroda Committee along with the present status of implementation thereof;
(b) whether twenty per cent of railway traffic is merely operated on half of the railway network in the country as per report of the committee;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
(d) the other steps taken/being taken by the Railways towards implementation of the aforesaid recommendations in a time bound manner?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) & (d): The Sam Pitroda Committee report made 113 recommendations covering 15 areas. The recommendations included those pertaining to modernization of tracks and bridges, Signalling systems, rolling stock, stations and terminals, PPP (Public Private Partnership) initiatives, utilisation of land and air space,
construction of dedicated freight corridors, high speed passenger corridors, expeditious implementation of “Priority Projects” harnessing Information and Communication technology, indigenous development and safety. It also recommended mobilisation of resources for the aforesaid purposes along with human resource development to increase specialisation and organisational changes. The recommendations are far reaching in scope and spread, require in-depth analysis and detailed deliberation and are presently under active examination in Railway Board.
However, pending acceptance of the recommendations, Railways have already initiated action for implementation of some of the recommendations like the ones pertaining to elimination of level crossings, modernisation of rolling stock, development of PPP models to attract private investment, construction of Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors and setting up of Rail Tariff Regulatory Authority.
(b) & (c): No, Madam. However, the report mentions that nearly 40 per cent of the network carries about 80 per cent of the traffic.