Lok Sabha Question No. 3858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Ongoing Railway Projects in Punjab
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3858 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN PUNJAB

3858.  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of ongoing railway projects in the State of Punjab;
- (b) the estimated timeline by which these projects will be completed; and
- (c) whether  any  new  project  proposals  have  been  received  by  the Railways from the Punjab Government and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3858 BY SHRI RAVNEET SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA  ON  09.08.2017  REGARDING  ONGOING  RAILWAY  PROJECTS  IN PUNJAB.

- (a) Railway projects are not sanctioned State wise.  However, the details of  ongoing  Railway      projects  falling  fully/partially  in  the  State  of  Punjab are as under:-

| Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab   | Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab   | Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab   | Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab   | Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab   | Details of ongoing Railway Projects in State of Punjab                                                                                                                               |
|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                   | Section                                                  | Year of inclusion                                        | Kms                                                      | Cost ( in crore)                                         | Status                                                                                                                                                                               |
| NEW LINES                                                | NEW LINES                                                | NEW LINES                                                | NEW LINES                                                | NEW LINES                                                | NEW LINES                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 1.                                                       | Nangal Dam- Talwara                                      | 1981- 82                                                 | 112                                                      | 2100                                                     | Nangal Dam-Churaru Takrala, Amb Andaura ( 45 km) has been commissioned. Work in Amb Andaura-Dhoulatpur section has been taken up. Balance work held up for want of land acquisition. |
| 2.                                                       | Qadian-Beas                                              | 2011- 12                                                 | 39.68                                                    | 430                                                      | Due to strong public protest, final location survey could not be taken up.                                                                                                           |
| 3                                                        | Rajpura - Mohali                                         | 2016- 17                                                 | 17.37                                                    | 406                                                      | New work included in budget 2016-17 subject to requisite approval. State government has been requested to give their consent to take up the project through Joint Venture (JV).      |
| 4                                                        | Bhanupallli - Bilaspur- Beri                             | 2009- 10                                                 | 63.1                                                     | 5000                                                     | Land acquisition taken up.                                                                                                                                                           |
| 5                                                        | Yamuna Nagar- Chandigarh via Sadhaura, Narayangarh       | 2013- 14                                                 | 91                                                       | 1638                                                     | The works included in budget 2013-14 subject to requisite clearances.                                                                                                                |

| 6        | Firozpur - Patti                                                                                        | 2013- 14   | 25                               | 450      | Ferozepur-Patti new line project had been included in Budget 2013-14 subject to requisite approvals. Government approvals obtained in March, 2017. Detailed estimate sanctioned.   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|----------------------------------|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| DOUBLING | DOUBLING                                                                                                | DOUBLING   | DOUBLING                         | DOUBLING | DOUBLING                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 7        | Jallandhar- Pathankot- Jammu                                                                            | 1997- 98   | 211                              | 1130     | Out of 211 km length, doubling of 206 km has been commissioned for passenger services. Balance work taken up.                                                                      |
| 8.       | Ambala Cantt.- Dhappar (Ph-I)- 22.71 with Material Modification of doubling of Dhappar- Chandigarh      | 2010- 11   | 22.75 & 22.45                    | 560      | Ambala-Dhappar section completed and opened for passenger traffic. Dhappar- Chandigarh section work taken up.                                                                      |
| 9.       | Mansa- Bathinda Phase-I with Material Modification Rama Mandi (Raman)- Sada Singhwala via Talwandi Sabo | 2009- 10   | 53 km doubling & 29 km new lines | 427      | Doubling work (53 km) commissioned except Bathinda yard which has been taken up. Final location survey of new line has been taken up.                                              |
| 10       | Rajpura- Bathinda doubling                                                                              | 2015- 16   | 172                              | 1251     | Work included in Pink Book 2015-16 subject to requisite approval. Detailed estimate sanctioned. Further works taken up.                                                            |

|   11 | Kathua - Madhopur doubling across bridge No. 16, 18 & 19   | 2011- 12   |   0.261 |   80 | Work on bridge No. 19 completed. Work on Bridge No. 16 and 18 taken up.                                             |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------|---------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   12 | Kathua - Madhopur doubling across Ravi Bridge              | 2010- 11   |   0.82  |   96 | Work taken up.                                                                                                      |
|   13 | Mirthal - Bhangala doubling across Beas Bridge             | 2011- 12   |   0.665 |  375 | Work taken up.                                                                                                      |
|   14 | Ludhiana-Kila Raipur                                       | 2017- 18   |  19     |  230 | The works included in budget 2017-18 subject to requisite clearances. Detailed Project Report is under preparation. |
|   15 | Ludhiana- Mullanpur                                        | 2017- 18   |  21     |   83 | The works included in budget 2017-18 subject to requisite clearances. Detailed Project Report is under preparation. |

(b):  Every  Railway  project  requires  a  number  of  clearances  from  various Ministries and Departments of State/Central Governments. These, inter-alia, include  clearances  inherent  to  land  acquisition,  forestry  clearance  and permission for crossing from departments like National Highway Authority of India, Public Works Department, Irrigation canals etc. which are part of project execution.  Process of seeking the approvals/clearances and land acquisition causes delay in completion of the projects.  All these factors are beyond the control of Ministry of Railways.

Besides  this,  the  funds  for  each  project  are  allocated  on  yearly basis,  based on the Gross Budgetary Support from Ministry of Finance and internal generation and  progress of the project.   In view of the uncertainty with regard to funding and issues regarding land acquisition, timeframe for completion of projects is normally not fixed. To  expedite  completion  of  projects,  Railways  have  arranged additional funds by way of loan from Life Insurance Corporation for funding doubling projects and regular coordination meetings are held with Ministries/  Department  /State  Government  Authorities  to  expedite  land acquisition and other issues.  Other measures taken to expedite completion are prioritization of projects, delegation of powers at field level, inviting the State Governments to participate with Railways for resource mobilization for  projects,  nomination  of  nodal  officers  for  improved  co-ordination  with the State Governments etc.

(c) : Requests/proposal for new lines, gauge conversion and doubling, both formal  as  well  as  informal,  are  received  by  Railways  at  various  levels, Railway Board, Zonal Railways and Divisional Headquarters, etc.  As receipt of such requests/suggestions/demands is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained.

******