TEXT :
18.28 hrs.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House will now take up Supplementary Demands for Grants in respect of the Budget (Railways) for 1998-99 for which two hours have been allotted for discussion and voting.
Motion moved:
"That the respective supplementary sums not exceeding the amounts shown in the third column of the Order Paper be granted to the President of India out of the Consolidated Fund to defray the charges that will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1999 in respect of the heads of Demands entered in the second column thereof against Demand Nos. 2 and 16."
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In our country, gauge conversion on a number of routes is going on. Metre-gauge is converted into broad-gauge with huge investments. This is a most welcome move. Wherever gauge conversion has taken place, it has helped those areas to join the national map. The economy in those areas is also improving.
Sir, the Railways are not taking care of the passenger amenities wherever they go in for gauge conversion. Platforms are very low wherever we have metre-gauge lines. They are called low-level platforms. When the metre-gauge is converted into broad-gauge, it goes without saying and it goes without any demand from any quarter that the level of the platform should also be raised to a high level. For carrying out this work, sufficient Budgetary provision is necessary. Most unfortunately, in Andhra Pradesh, I have seen that on a number of routes, age-old low level platforms are continuing. The Railways are not taking sufficient interest to raise the level of those low-level platforms. For instance, I will submit to the hon. Railway Minister that there is a route from Guntur to Guntakal via Nandyal.
Actually, the stations are also decades-old and no renovation work has been taken up in many stations. The platforms are very low and a number of accidents are taking place. The villagers who travel in train are, really, not aware of the compensation that they can claim whenever an accident takes place and due to the negligence of the Railways, they are suffering. I would request the Minister of Railways to pay special attention and see that the platforms are raised. Then, lighting arrangements in the stations also have to be improved.
Sir, I will give a classic example of the negligence of the Railways. There is a railway station called Tonakonda in Vijayawada Division. When metre gauge trains were running on that line, there was a foot overbridge connecting the two platforms there. When the line was converted into broad gauge, the railway authorities said that they would reconstruct that bridge after gauge conversion and they had removed it. Now, even after three years, that foot overbridge has not been reconstructed. I made several representations to the railway authorities, including the Minister of Railways. I met the railway officials. They are pleading their inability to reconstruct it because of the non-availability of funds. It is most unfortunate and also unfair that an existing facility was removed at the time of gauge conversion. After all, the people of that area are demanding the reconstruction of that foot overbridge for them. I think, the Minister will kindly look into this matter also.
Sir, apart from other things in the Budget, the allocation for passenger amenities needs to be increased. The allocation for passenger amenities is very negligible. The Railway Budget is increasing multifold, but the allocation for passenger amenities like improvement of stations, platforms, lighting arrangements, supply of protected water, cover over platforms etc. need some money, and proportionate increase in the Railway Budget for these things is lacking. So, I appeal to the Minister to bear this important aspect in mind for the benefit of the travelling public and look after their welfare.