The Ministry of Railways addresses Unstarred Question No. 695 concerning development funds to railway zones, to be answered on 04.02.2026. Currently, 17 Railway Zones are operational in India, including Metro Railway, Kolkata. The foundation stone for the new South Coast Railway zone has been recently laid. Infrastructure development funds are allocated based on overall fund availability, demand, and requirements for various works and the size of the zone, not on the performance of individual zones. Details of Total Earnings and Total Expenditure by Zonal Railway are available in the Annual Statistical Statement of Indian Railways on the website (https://indianrailways.gov.in). The creation and setting up of zonal railways depends on the operational and infrastructural requirements of Indian Railways. The Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology is Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Key Entities Referenced
Railway Zones: Refers to the various operational zones within the Indian Railways system, which are the subject of the query regarding development funds, profitability, and expansion.
Ministry of Railways: The primary ministry responsible for the administration and governance of the Indian Railways, and the entity being addressed in the parliamentary question.
Southern Railway: One of the Railway Zones, specifically mentioned in the question concerning the status and development funds released.
Kolkata: City where Metro Railway is operational and mentioned as a specific Railway Zone.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 695
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO RAILWAY ZONES
695. SHRI SUNIL BOSE:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of zones in Indian Railways at present and their
profitability status;
(b) whether the Government has any policy/guidelines for allotment of
development funds to Railway Zones as per their performance and if so,
the details thereof;
(c) the present status of Southern Railway and the amount of development
funds released to them during the last three years and the current year;
and
(d) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the number of
zones in future and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): Presently, 17 Railway Zones are operational in the country
including Metro Railway, Kolkata. Further, foundation stone of new South
Coast Railway zone has been laid recently.
Funds for infrastructure development to zonal railways is allocated based
on various factors including overall fund availability, demand and
requirement for various works, size of zone etc. and not on performance of
any individual zone.
Zonal Railway wise details of Total Earnings and Total Expenditure are
available in Annual Statistical Statement of Indian Railways which is
available on website of Indian Railways (https://indianrailways.gov.in).
Further, creation and setting up of zonal railway depends on operational
and infrastructural requirements of Indian Railways.
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