Lok Sabha Question No. 1605 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Railway Projects in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1605 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KERALA

## 1605. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

- PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the various railway projects  underway in the State of Kerala, zone-wise and project-wise;
- (b) the number of projects which are behind schedule and the reasons therefor, project-wise;
- (c) the cost overrun for each of the pending projects; and
- (d) the  measures  that  have  been    taken/are  being  taken  by  the Government to complete the projects within the stipulated time or extended time-frame?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1605  BY    SHRIMATI  P.K.  SREEMATHI TEACHER AND PROF. K.V. THOMAS TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.12.2017 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KERALA

(a)  to (c): Details of ongoing projects included in Budget,  falling partly or fully in the State of Kerala alongwith  latest estimated cost, expenditure incurred thereon upto March, 2017 and outlay provided etc are as under:-

## ( ` in Crore)

| S. No.   | Project                       | Zone (Railway)   | Latest cost   | Expendi ture upto March, 2017   | Outlay 2017- 18   | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|----------|-------------------------------|------------------|---------------|---------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          | New line                      |                  |               |                                 |                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 1.       | Tirunavaya -Guruvayur (35 Km) | Southern         | 477           | 31.92                           | 18                | Government of Kerala has approved alignment in 2009 and Final Location Survey (FLS) for first 8 Km completed. Balance FLS is held up due to public protest.                                                      |
| 2.       | Angamali- Sabrimala (116 Km)  | Southern         | 1566          | 218.45                          | 213.59            | On this project, track linking on Angamali-Kaladi section (7 Km) has been completed. Earthwork and bridge works have been taken up in Kaladi-Perumbavoor section (11 Km). Beyond Perumbavoor, alignment has been |

|    |                                                                  |          |        |        |       | fixed and preparation of estimate & plans have been taken up.                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------|--------|-------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    | GAUGE CONVERSION                                                 |          |        |        |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 1. | Quilon- Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur &Tenkasi- Virudhunagar (357 Km) | Southern | 1122   | 944.62 | 41.48 | 336 Km. has been commissioned. Remaining section i.e. New Ariyankavu- Edamann (21 Km) falling in Kerala area is in advanced stage of completion.                                                                                                        |
|    | DOUBLING                                                         |          |        |        |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 1. | Ernakulam- Kumbalam (7.71 Km)                                    | Southern | 189.24 | 8.20   | 30    | In view of considerable increase in project cost due to abnormal rise in cost of land, State Government was requested for free land and sharing 50% of construction cost of the project. However, State Government has not agreed to Railway's request. |
| 2. | Kumbalam- Turavur (15.59 Km)                                     | Southern | 253    | 6.97   | 65    | In view of considerable increase in project cost due to abnormal rise in cost of land, State                                                                                                                                                            |

|    |                                   |          |     |        |        | Government was requested for free land and sharing 50% of construction cost of the project. However, State Government has not agreed to Railway's request.                              |
|----|-----------------------------------|----------|-----|--------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  3 | Ambalapuzha- Haripad (18.13 Km)   | Southern | 289 | 194.49 |  38.45 | Earthwork, bridges & ballast supply works have been taken up. State Government has to expedite handing over of 0.39 hectare                                                             |
|  4 | Kuruppantara -Chingavanam (27 Km) | Southern | 346 | 177.01 | 100    | Kuruppantara- Ettumannur (8 Km) is in advance stage. State Government has to expedite handing over of 7.04 hectare of land to Railways.                                                 |
|  5 | Chingavanam- Chengannur (27 Km)   | Southern | 343 | 307.43 |  33.63 | Chengannur- Changanassery section (17 Km) commissioned. Work on balance section is in advance stage. State Government has to expedite handing over of 1.20 hectare of land to Railways. |

|   6. | Thiruvanant hapuram- Kanniyakum ari (86.56 Km)   | Southern   |   1431.90 |    2 |   50 | Requisite clearances to take up work on this project have been obtained. Detailed Estimate sanctioned and land acquisition taken up.   |
|------|--------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------|------|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    7 | Turavur- Ambalapuzha (45.86 Km)                  | Southern   |      1000 | 0.48 |   30 | Project has been deferred till the consent of State Government for cost sharing and providing free land is received.                   |

Completion of projects depends  on a number  of factors such as acquisition  of  land,  forestry  and  wildlife  clearances,  shifting  of  various services, construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges by road maintenance departments, apart from availability of adequate funds. Many of these factors are beyond the control of the Ministry of Railways.

(d): To expedite completion of projects, a number of initiatives have been taken to speed up the works like increased allocation of funds, funding through loan from Institutions like Life Insurance Corporation, execution of  projects  through  Special  Purpose  Vehicles,  etc.  Besides  these,  to reduce delays on account of land acquisition, security issues and forestry clearances  etc,  meetings  with  State  Officials  at  various  levels  are  held from  time  to  time.    Field  units  have  also  been  empowered  with  further delegation of powers and the contract conditions have been modified to bring efficiency in contract management.

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