Doubling
During the current year about 200 km of doublings are likely to be completed, while in the
next financial year a target of 340 km has been proposed.
Honble Members will be happy to know that doublings of Pakni-Mohol, Mansi-Maheshkhunt,
Rohtak-Jakhal, Hapur-Kankather, Sahibabad-Anand Vihar 3rd and 4th line,
Ambaturai-Kodaikkanal, Chennai Beach-Korukkupet, Kataiya Dandi-Lohgara, Shujalpur-Akodia ,
Barauni-Tilrath, Barharwa-Tinpahar, Kayankulam-Cheppad and Kayankulam-Mavelikara,
Jahanabad-Bela and Chandpara-Bangaon have been included in the budget. Further, doubling
of Raichur-Guntakal, Cuttack-Barang, Khurda-Barang 3rd line and Aligarh-Ghaziabad 3rd line
have also been included to strengthen Golden Quadrilateral. The completion of these works
is expected to ease the traffic flow and create additional capacity on some of the
saturated sections.
Mega
Terminals
While there have been persistent demands for introducing new trains from the Metros,
terminal constraints are a major bottleneck. To overcome this, proposals for development
of additional terminals at Chitpur, Kolkata and Anand Vihar, Delhi have been included in
this Budget.
Suburban
Transport Projects
I am happy to state that necessary approvals for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project
Phase-I have been obtained. The projec t envisages upgradation of the rail infrastructure
in the city of Mumbai and will go a long way in reducing the overcrowding of commuters in
the Mumbai Suburban Rail System.
The project involves a loan component of Rs.1613 crores, which has been sanctioned by the
World Bank. The work is expected to be completed in 5 years.
I am glad to inform the House that the work on the balance portion of 5th line from
Andheri to Borivali has been completed. The work of automatic block signalling from Virar
to Dahanu Road has also been completed, enhancing the line capacity of the section.
EMU services on Barasat-Hasnabad have been commissioned on 22.12.2002. The extension of
Kolkata Metro from Tollyganj to Garia is progressing satisfactorily. Extension of Circular
Railway from Princepghat to Majerhat and its connection to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Airport is likely to be completed by December 2004.
I am happy to state that gauge conversion of Chennai Beach to Egmore has been commissioned
recently. The section from Tambaram to Chengalpattu is likely to be completed by
March-2004. Hon'ble Members would be pleased to know that considering the public need, it
has been decided to provide a direct link between Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore.
This link would benefit commuters as well as long distance passengers and would relieve
them of the irksome transhipment between the two stations.
As regards MRTS, the work of Tirumailai to Vellachery is expected to be completed by June
2003.
The multi-modal transportation system for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad,
is making satisfactory progress and upgradation of railway infrastructure in
Hyderabad-Secunderabad-Falaknuma section and Hyderabad-Lingampalli sections is likely to
be completed by March 2003.
There have been demands of beautification of the stations on circular railway at Kolkata
in order to improve overall ambience along the bank of river Hoogly.
I am happy to inform that it is proposed to give face-lift to the stations along with
plantation and ornamental fencing in between the stations so as to bring about overall
improvement in the surroundings.
Railway
Electrification
Railway Electrification works have progressed satisfactorily during the year and 208 route
kms. have been energized up to January, 2003. It is proposed to electrify a total of 375
route kms. during the current year. By the end of March 2003, 16376 route kms (25.98
percent) on Indian Railways will be electrified.
Railway
Recruitment Board
Presently, for the written test (objective type) for Group D recruitments by RRBs, there
is a provision for setting of the question papers in Hindi and English only. Since
recruitment in Group D in Railways is Division-wise, it has been decided that henceforth,
the question paper will also be set in the local language, listed in the VIII schedule of
the Constitution, prevalent in the concerned division.
This will provide opportunity for seeking Group D employment in Railways to those who know
only such local language.
Public
Sector Undertakings
Hon'ble Members will be happy to know that the performance of the Public Sector
Undertakings has been satisfactory during the year 2001-2002. During 2001-2002, IRCON
International Ltd. had registered a turnover of Rs. 907 cr and earned a net profit of Rs.
104 cr. The company has paid a dividend of Rs. 17.3 cr.
The company bagged export awards from Overseas Construction Council of India for maximum
turnover in foreign exchange in overseas construction contracts. RITES Limited achieved
its highest ever turnover of Rs. 283 cr during the year 2001-2002, recording a net profit
of Rs. 39 cr and paid a dividend of Rs. 3.75 cr. The Container Corporation of India Ltd.
(CONCOR) registered a turnover of Rs. 1286 cr., earning a net profit of Rs. 249.85 cr. It
has paid a dividend of Rs. 41 cr.
During 2001-2002, IRFC achieved a net profit of Rs. 292 cr and paid a dividend of Rs. 100
cr. |
