Question : Strategic Rail Lines

(a) whether the Government has since started the process of building strategic railway lines along the international borders including China border;

(b) if so, the details of such strategic railway lines decided to be built by Railways along international borders;

(c) the estimated amount invested so far or likely to be invested in the next few years to build the strategic railway lines;

(d) the time by which the task of building strategic railway lines along China border is likely to be completed;

(e) whether the Railways has proposed to expand its network in the hilly and rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps the Ministry is taking to ensure safe usage of these lines, and monitor infiltration, weapon transport as well as other illegal activities prevalent on the border?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1294 BY SHRI KAMAL NATH, SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA, SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER AND SHRI ANOOP MISHRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 25.07.2018 REGARDING STRATEGIC RAIL LINES

(a) & (b): Ministry of Defence has identified four strategic lines along India-China border viz. (i) Missamari - Tenga - Tawang (378 Km) (ii) Bilaspur - Manali - Leh (498 Km) (iii) Pasighat – Tezu - Rupai (227 Km) and (iv) North Lakhimpur - Bame (Along)-Silapathar (249 Km). Ministry of Defence has provided funds to Ministry of Railways for carrying out Final Location Survey (FLS) of these four indentified strategic lines and Ministry of Railways has taken up these FLS.

(c) & (d): Do not arise as the projects of these lines are not yet sanctioned.

(e): Sanction of New Line Railway projects in hilly and rural areas is based on various factors including assessment of traffic potential, sharing of cost by Stake holders including State Governments, financial viability, social consideration etc.

(f): Security of tracks and bridges is the responsibility of concerned District Police falling within the territorial jurisdictions of respective States. At the same time, detection of crime and their investigation in station premises and running trains are the statutory responsibility of Government Railway Police (GRP), a wing of State Police.

Railway Protection Force (RPF), which functions under the Ministry of Railways, ensures protection and security of Railway property across Indian Railways. Besides, RPF is supplementing efforts of GRPs of concerned States to check illegal activities and to detect passenger related offences in station premises and trains and hand over accuse persons to GRPs of respective States for further legal action.

State Level Security Committee for Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted for all State/Union Territories (UTs) under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of States/UTs for regular monitoring and review of security arrangement for the Railways.
RPF also forms part of ‘Multi Agency Center’ (MAC) at Central and ‘State Multi Agency Center’ (SMAC) at State level and based on the inputs shared at MAC/SMAC, necessary preventive measures are taken in coordination with State agencies to strengthen railway infrastructure and to check illegal activities.

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