New Delhi: “As on April 1, 2022, 11 double-track projects with a total length of 1234 km are operational in Tamil Nadu with the approval of the Railways, fully or partially at a cost of Rs 14,190 crore,” said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
Monsoon session of Parliament is going on. Vaiko, MDMK general secretary in Rajya Sabha, asked, “Are trains delayed by 15 to 45 minutes every day due to single tracks? Has the Railways conducted any survey to find out the number of single tracks in various railway zones in Tamil Nadu?”
Are such railway stations suffering from basic infrastructural problems like lack of drinking water facilities, lack of parking space, unhygienic toilets and insufficient staff? If so, what are the details of the steps taken to improve the situation and create a dual carriageway in the future?”
To this, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav replied: “Trains in Indian Railways, including trains running on single-track sections, are listed at permissible speeds and trains are operated accordingly. Therefore, single-tracking of trains cannot be the reason.
It is an initiative of Railways to provide free drinking water at all railway stations across the country. Adequate arrangements have been made to provide free drinking water at all railway stations including single track railways in Tamil Nadu to meet the demand.
Provision is made for parking of vehicles at all possible places on the above single track lines based on demand and patronage. Toilets are properly cleaned and maintained hygienically. Necessary safety arrangements have been made on railway lines in Tamil Nadu.
As railway projects are spread over various state boundaries, railway projects are approved zone wise. Double track is set on the basis of revenue of the projects, increase of congested and saturated tracks, railway’s own operational requirement, availability of resources, already ongoing project and overall financial availability.
As on 01.04.2022, 11 double track projects with a total length of 1234 km are operational in Tamil Nadu with the approval of Railways, in whole or in part at a cost of Rs.14190 crores.
