The Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated the High Speed Wi-Fi services at Patna (Bihar), Ranchi (Jharkhand) & Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) Railway Stations through Video Conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi for the commuters at these Railway Stations. The Wi-Fi facility for the visitors & rail users at these stations has been commissioned by RailTel in association with Google for providing high speed state of the art world class internet experience to the commuters. Chairman, Railway Board Shri A.K. Mital, Member Engineering Shri V.K. Gupta, M.D. RailTel Shri R.K. Bahuguna, and other board Members were present at Rail Bhawan to grace the occasion. Various dignitaries were also presented at the respective above mentioned Railway Stations.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that as the India is heading towards digitalization, Internet has become the basic need of every individual for which they are entitled to. He said that to bring the railway stations to world standard and to keep pace with the latest technology, provision of high speed WiFi is the first step in this direction. He said that so far this facility has been provided at 19 Railway Stations which will be extended to 100 Railway Station in the coming one year. He said that after completion of this project of providing WiFi facility at all 400 stations, it would be the biggest WiFi service in the world. He said that Indian Railways have been taking lot of measures to improve the facilities for the railway users and the coming time will also bring lot of new facilities which will make the railway passengers feel proud.

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Indian Railways will work to the maximum extent possible to provide better rail transportion to the people of India : Suresh Prabhu

The Indian Railways has been working effortlessly to connect every part of the country with rail network. In this direction, the Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, today i.e. on 04.03.2016 flagged off two new trains in the service of the nation through video-conferencing. The first one is a new Express train viz. 15623/15624 Kamakhya-Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur) Express(Weekly) and the second one is a new Passenger service viz. 75713/75714 Siliguri-New Coochbehar DEMU (6 days a week) on the newly constructed New Coochbehar-Changrabandha section. Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha was especially present on the occasion. At New Delhi end, Chairman, Railway Board along with Board Members and senior officers were present. Various Public Representatives and Senior Officials were also present at New Coochbehar Station and Kamkhya Station.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that this was a long-standing demand of the people of North-Eastern region to provide train services in these areas. He said that the connectivity through DEMU train between New Coochbehar & Changrabandha in West Bengal will benefit all sections of the society including daily-passengers and businessmen. He said that the other train service i.e. the Kamakhya-Bhagat Ki Kothi Express will not only connect North India from North East India but will also help lakhs & lakhs of pilgrims who come to visit Maa Kamakhya Temple to pay their tribute. He said that this train will reach Bhagat Ki Kothi Station by passing 7 States of India. He said that this is a historic day and Indian Railways will work to the maximum extent possible to provide better rail transportion to the people of India.

BACKGROUNDER : –

The schedule including timings, composition, stoppages etc. of these train services are as under:

Introduction:

1. 15623/15624 Kamakhya-Bhagat Ki Kothi Express (Weekly)

• Days of run: Ex-BGKT- Tuesday & Ex-KYQ- Friday

• Stoppages: Merta Road jn., Degana, Khatu, Chhoti Khatu, Didwana, Ladnun, Sujangarh, Churu, Sadulpur, Luharu, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon, Delhi Cantt, Delhi Jn., Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Ayodhaya, Shahganj, Faizabad, Varanasi,  Mughalsarai, Buxar, Ara, Patna, Barauni, Khagaria, Naugachia, Katihar, Sonaili, Kishanganj, New Jalpaiguri, New Coochbehar, New Alipurduar, Kokrajhar, New Bongaigaon Jn., Barpeta Road, Rangiya.

• Composition: LWLRRM-2, LWACCN-3, LWACCW-2, LWSCN-6, LS-6=19 coaches

• Primary Maintenance: Kamakhya

• Nature of Service: Express

1. 75713/75714 Siliguri-New Coochbehar DEMU (6 days a week)
   

Ø Days of run: Ex-SGUJ- 6 days a week & Ex-NCB- 6 days a week (Except Sunday)

Ø Stoppages: New Mal Jn., at all stations/halts in between New Mal Jn. and New Coochbehar

Ø Composition: DPC-2, TC-4, DTC-2 = 08 coaches

Ø Primary Maintenance: Siliguri

Ø Nature of Service: Passenger service (DEMU)

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO-198

ANSWERED ON-05.12.2014

Demand to extend and start new trains

198 . SHRI BHUPINDER SINGH

(a) whether there is a continuous demand to extend Visakhapatnam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Samata Express to Amritsar as daily train;

(b) whether Government would consider the long pending demand to start a new train from Junagarh to Varanasi; and

(c) whether Government would consider to start intercity train from Junagarh to Visakhapatnam, Junagarh to Durg and Junagarh to Bhubaneswar via Kesinga, Titlagarh and Sambalpur in Odisha?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 198 BY SHRI BHUPINDER SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 05.12.2014 REGARDING DEMAND TO EXTEND AND START NEW TRAINS.

(a) Requests have been received for extension of 12807/12808 Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Samata Express upto Amritsar and increase in its frequency from five days a week to daily. However, 18507/18508 Visakhapatnam-Amritsar Hirakud Express (tri-weekly) is presently available between Visakhapatnam and Amritsar.

(b) & (c) Junagarh Road station is presently connected to Bhubaneswar by 18437/18438 Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road Link Express (daily) while connectivity to Durg and Visakhapatnam stations are available from Lanjigarh Road station (situated on mainline) which is about 54 Km from Junagarh Road station. For travelling to Varanasi, passenger of Junagarh Road station may avail change over at Raipur/Bhubaneswar which are presently well connected to Varanasi. However, at present, there is no proposal to introduce trains from Junagarh to Varanasi/Durg/Bhubaneswar/Visakhapatnam due to operational and resource constraints including non-availability of terminal maintenance facilities at Junagarh Road station. However, introduction of trains is an ongoing process over Indian Railways and is done keeping in view the traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, competing demand etc.

Source-  http://rajyasabha.nic.in/

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• Rail Budget Seeks Course Correction, Avoids Populism
• No Increase in Rail Fare
• Stress on Resource Mobilization Through PSU Surplus, FDI and PPP
• Bullet Train on Ahmedabad-Mumbai Corridor Proposed, Speed of Trains to be Increased in Nine Sectors
• More Thrust on Passenger Amenities, Cleanliness & Efficient Station Management
• Multi Pronged Approach for Improving Safety & Security, 4000 Women RPF Constables to be Recruited
• Revamping Railway Reservation System into Next Generation e-Ticketing, WI-FI Services in Major Stations & in Select Trains, Mobile based Wakeup Calls for Passengers
• 58 New Trains Introduced; 11 Existing Trains Extended
• Railway University and Innovation Incubation Centre to be Set UP
• Top Priority to Transparency, e-procurement to be made
• Compulsory in Higher Purchase, Online Registration for Wagons in Next Two Months
• Highest Ever Plan Outlay of Rs. 65,445 Crore with Higher Allocation for Safety Measures

Increased passenger amenities, more safety measures, timely completion of projects and increased financial discipline are the main highlights of the Railway Budget 2014-15 presented by the Minister of Railways Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in Parliament today.

The Budget seeks course correction in the light of mismanagement, apathy, populism in starting projects and severe fund crunch that have inflicted the railways over the years, the Minister averred. For this, structural reforms will be introduced and resources will be mobilized through PSU surplus, FDI and PPP.

The Budget proposes multi-pronged approach to make Railway journey safe and secure and comfortable for passengers. More thrust has been placed on passenger amenities, cleanliness and efficient station management. Now all major stations will have foot-over bridges, escalators, lifts etc.

On safety and security, the Budget has proposed introduction of advance technology for rail-flaw detection to check causes of accidents, a significant amount has been kept for road-over and road-under bridges and a pilot project will be launched on automatic door closing in mainline and sub-urban coaches. In order to make women safer while travelling, the Railway will recruit 4000 women constables. Coaches for ladies will be escorted.

IT initiatives get a big boost in the Budget. Revamping Railway Reservation System into Next Generation e-Ticketing will be taken up with provision of platform tickets and unreserved tickets also over internet. The Railway has proposed real-time tracking of trains and rolling stocks, mobile based Wakeup Call System for passengers, mobile based destination arrival alert and Wi-fi Services in A-1 and A category stations and in select trains. Indian Railways has also planned paperless offices in 5 years.

In order to make Railway management more efficient, Budget has proposed setting up of Railway University for training in both technical and non-technical subjects besides establishing Innovations and Incubation Centre to harness the ideas generated from staff.

In a bid to modernise Indian Railway network, Bullet train has been proposed on Mumbai-Ahmadabad sector besides increasing speed of trains to 160-200 kmph in select 9 sectors. The Railway has also planned setting up of Diamond Quadrilateral Network of High Speed Rail connecting major metros and growth centers of the country. Identified stations will be developed to international standards with modern facilities on lines of newly developed airports through PPP mode. Railway has also proposed harnessing solar energy by utilizing roof top spaces of stations, railway buildings and land.

To augment resources of Railways, the Budget has proposed schemes to facilitate procurement of parcel vans and rakes by private parties, special milk tanker trains, increased movement of fruits and vegetables in partnership with Warehousing Corporation and setting up Private Freight Terminals on PPP model.

The Railway has proposed to bring in more transparency in administration and execution of projects. The status of ongoing projects will be available online, E-procurement will be made compulsory for procurement of higher amount and online registration of demands for wagons will be introduced within next two months.

The Budget has passenger centric focus on suburban and metropolitan rail services. 864 additional state-of-the-art EMUs will be introduced in Mumbai in two years. Study to explore possibility of enhancing existing railway network for better connectivity needs of Bangaluru will be taken up.

The Railway Budget 2014-15 has proposed 58 new trains besides extending 11 existing trains. Provision has been made for 28 surveys for new lines and doubling or gauge conversion of lines. Higher funds have been proposed for ongoing projects in Northeast and remote areas. Special packaged trains on identified pilgrim circuits, two tourist trains and a special train featuring life and work of Swami Vivekananda has been proposed in the Budget.

According to the Budget estimates, the Railways will earn  1,64,374 crore through various resources and will spend  1,49,176 crore during 2014-15. The operating ratio is expected to be 92.5% which is 1% better than that in 2013-14.

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Press Information Bureau

Government of India
Ministry of Railways

08-July-2014 13:29 IST

Railway Reservation System to be Revamped

The Minister of Railways Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda has said that Railway Reservation System will be revamped into Next Generation e-Ticketing System. Ticket booking through mobile phones and through Post Offices will be popularized.

Presenting the Railway Budget 2014-15 in Parliament today he said, the Indian Railways will improve the system capabilities in e-ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute as against 2000 tickets per minute and allow 1,20,000 simultaneous users at any point in time.

The Minister said, facility of Coin Operated Automatic Ticket Vending Machines will be experimented.
He said, efforts will also be made to provide facility of buying Platform Tickets and unreserved tickets over internet. Parking-cum-Platform Combo Tickets will be launched to facilitate the passengers and to save their time.

He said that online booking facility of Railway Retiring Room will be extended to all the stations during the course of the year. Presenting the Railway Budget 2014-15 in Parliament today he said, the Indian Railways is expanding the scope of online booking for people to book a Train, book a Coach, book a Berth and book a Seat in Chair Car.

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

08-July-2014 13:33 IST

Bullet Trains and Diamond Quadrilateral Network of High Speed Rail

The Minister of Railways Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda has said that Indian Railways is on its way to fulfill the long cherished dream to run a Bullet Train. Presenting the Railway Budget 2014-15 in Parliament today, he said, the Railways proposes bullet trains by starting off with an already identified Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, where a number of studies have been done.

The Minster said, under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modiji, the Railways is embarking on an ambitious plan to have a Diamond Quadrilateral Network of High Speed Rail, connecting major Metros and growth centers of the country. A provision of Rs.100 crore has been made in the Budget for high Speed project to RVNL/HSRC (High Speed Rail Corridor) for taking further steps.
He said, while bullet trains would require completely new infrastructure, higher speed for existing trains will be achieved by upgrading the present network. The Minister said, hence, an effort will be made to increase the speed of trains to 160-200 kmph in select sectors so as to significantly reduce travel time between major cities. The Minister said, the identified sectors are:

i) Delhi-Agra
ii) Delhi-Chandigarh
iii) Delhi-Kanpur
iv) Nagpur-Bilaspur
v) Mysore-Bengaluru-Chennai
vi) Mumbai-Goa
vii) Mumbai-Ahmedabad
viii) Chennai-Hyderabad and
ix) Nagpur-Secunderabad.

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Print Press Information Bureau

Government of India
Ministry of Railways

08-July-2014 13:19 IST

Railways proposes to introduce 58 new trans which includes five Jansadharan Trains, five Premium Trains, six AC Express Trains, 27 Express Trains, eight Passenger Trains, two MEMU services and five DEMU services this year. Announcing this in Parliament today while presenting the rail budget, the Minister of Railways Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda also proposed to extend the run of 11 existing trains.

Shri Gowda said these services would be meeting the demand surges which manifest themselves on special occasions. He said that special trains would continue to run to meet the holiday and festival rush including services for Melmaruvathur, Velankanni, Jhalawar etc.

NEW TRAINS

Jansadharan Trains

i) Ahmedabad–Darbhanga Jansadharan Express via Surat
Ii Jaynagar–Mumbai Jansadharan Express
ii) Mumbai–Gorakhpur Jansadharan Express
iv) Saharasa–Anand Vihar Jansadharan Express via Motihari
v) Saharasa–Amritsar Jansadharan Express

Premium Trains

i) Mumbai Central–New Delhi Premium AC Express
ii) Shalimar–Chennai Premium AC Express
iii) Secunderabad-­ Hazrat Nizamuddin Premium AC Express
iv) Jaipur–Madurai Premium Express
v) Kamakhya–Bengaluru Premium Express

AC ExpressTrains

i) Vijayawada­NewDelhiAPExpress(Daily)
ii) LokmanyaTilak(T)–Lucknow(Weekly)
iii) Nagpur–Pune(Weekly)
iv) Nagpur–Amritsar(Weekly)
v) Naharlagun–NewDelhi(Weekly)
vi) Nizamuddin–Pune(Weekly)

ExpressTrains

i) Ahmedabad–Patna Express(Weekly)via Varanasi
ii) Ahmedabad­ Chennai Express(Bi­weekly)via Vasai Road
iii) Bengaluru –Mangalore Express(Daily)
iv) Bengaluru –Shimoga Express(Bi­weekly)
v) Bandra(T)–Jaipur Express(Weekly)Via Nagda,Kota
vi) Bidar–Mumbai Express(Weekly)
vii) Chhapra–Lucknow Express (Tri­ weekly)viaBallia,Ghazipur,Varanasi
viii) Ferozpur–Chandigarh Express(6 days a week)
ix) Guwahati–Naharlagun Intercity Express(Daily)
x) Guwahati–Murkongselek Intercity Express(Daily)
xi) Gorakhpur–Anand Vihar Express(Weekly)
xii) Hapa–Bilaspur Express(Weekly)via Nagpur
xiii) Hazur Saheb Nanded–Bikaner Express(Weekly)
xiv) Indore–Jammu Tawi Express(Weekly)
xv) Kamakhya–Katra Express(Weekly)via Darbhanga
xvi) Kanpur–Jammu Tawi Express(Bi­weekly)
xvii) Lokmanya Tilak(T)–Azamgarh Express(Weekly)
xviii) Mumbai_Kazipeth Express(Weekly)via Balharshah
xix) Mumbai–Palitana Express(Weekly)
xx) New Delhi ­Bhatinda Shatabdi Express(Bi­weekly)
xxi) New Delhi–Varanasi Express(Daily)
xxii) Paradeep–Howrah Express(Weekly)
xxiii) Paradeep–Visakhapatnam Express(Weekly)
xxiv) Rajkot–Rewa Express(Weekly)
xxv) Ramnagar–Agra Express(Weekly)
xxvi) Tatanagar Baiyyappanahali (Bengaluru) Express(Weekly)
xxvii) Visakhapatnam–Chennai Express(Weekly)

Passenger Trains

i) Bikaner–Rewari Passenger(Daily)
ii) Dharwad–Dandeli Passenger(Daily)via Alnavar
iii) Gorakhpur–Nautanwa Passenger(Daily)
iv) Guwahati–Mendipathar Passenger(Daily)
v) Hatia–Rourkela Passenger
vi) Byndoor–Kasaragod Passenger(Daily)
vii) Rangapara North–Rangiya Passenger(Daily)
viii) Yesvantpur–Tumkur Passenger(Daily)

MEMU services

i) Bengaluru –Ramanagaram 6 days a week(3Pairs)
ii) Palwal–Delhi–Aligarh

DEMU services

i) Bengaluru –Neelmangala (Daily)
ii) Chhapra–Manduadih (6days a week)via Ballia
iii) Baramula–Banihal (Daily)
iv) Sambalpur–Rourkela (6 days a week)
v) Yesvantpur ­Hosur (6 days a week)

EXTENSION OF RUN OF EXISTING TRAINS

i) 22409/22410 Anand Vihar Sasaram Garib Rath Express to Gaya
ii) 12455/12456 Delhi Sarai Rohilla Sriganganagar Express to Bikaner
iii) 15231/15232 Gondia Muzaffarpur Express to Barauni
iv) 12001/12002 New Delhi Bhopal Shatabdi Express to Habibganj
v) 54602 Ludhiana–Hissar Passenger to Sadulpur
vi) 55007/55008 Sonpur–Kaptanganj Passenger to Gorakhpur
vii) 55072/55073 Gorakhpur–Thawe Passenger toSiwan
viii) 63237/63238Buxar–Mughalsarai MEMU toVaranasi
ix) 63208/63211Jhajha–PatnaMEMUtoJasidih
x) 64221/64222LucknowHardoi MEMU to Shahjahan pur
xi) 68002/68007Howrah–Belda MEMU to Jaleswar

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MKP/HK/Samir/sk

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