(a) whether the Government has any proposal to start new trains specially for naxal hit and remote areas of the country in near future;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of the Railways projects sanctioned/to be sanctioned for Bihar and nearby areas?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) & (b) Introduction of new trains, inter alia, to provide connectivity to remote areas as also to naxal affected areas, is an ongoing process on Indian Railways. During the year 2017-18, Indian Railways have introduced 45 pairs of trains, extended 19 pairs of trains, increased the frequencies of 06 pairs of trains, some of which serve areas affected by naxals and also provide connectivity to remote locations of North Eastern parts of the country.
(c) Sanction of Projects over Indian Railways, including the state of Bihar, is a continuous and on-going process depending upon technical, operational and commercial feasibility. Details of sanctioned projects relating to 34 new line, 5 gauge conversion and 13 doubling falling fully/partly in Bihar are appended. There is no project sanctioned or executed through Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Bihar, however, one project viz. Shivpur - Kathautia (47 KM) is sanctioned which is executed through Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in state of Jharkhand.
*****