Lok Sabha Question No. 878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: Doubling of Railway Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH, SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 878 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2017

## DOUBLING OF RAILWAY TRACKS

878. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH: SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  decided  to  convert  the  broad  gauge tracks into double lining in the country including Assam and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  has  fixed  any  time  frame  to  complete  the same and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details about the work of the double lining of the Hojai-Lumding broad gauge section;
- (d) the  details  about  the  work  of  the  double  lining  along  the  DigaruHojai  and  Bongaigaon-Jogighopa-Guwahati  broad  gauge  section; and
- (e) the details about the work of track electrification and doubling of tracks from New Jalpaiguri to Guwahati section?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a):    Yes,  Madam,  Railways  have  included  large  number  of  Doubling projects in recent Budgets.  At present, 256 projects of Doubling/3 rd /4 th  line involving a length of 19,908 Km and anticipated cost of ` 1,84,900 Crore are in different stages of execution.  Out of these, 6 projects covering 482 Km and involving an approx. cost of ` 9,305 Crore lie fully/partly in the State of Assam.

(b):    Completion  of  Railway  projects  depends upon several factors which includes  No  Objection  Certificate  (NOC)  from  NHAI,  land  acquisition, forestry clearances, shifting of utilities, canal & electrical crossings etc. Moreover, funds to each project are allocated every year depending on the total  budget  outlay,  progress  made  in  each  project  and  relative  priority. Since many of these factors are beyond the control of Ministry of Railways, no time-frame can be fixed for completion of these projects. (c):    Doubling  of  Hojai-Lumding  (44.92  Km)  has  been  taken  up  at  an anticipated cost of ` 398.93 Crore.  An allocation of ` 100 Crore has been made for this project for the financial year 2017-18. (d):   Doubling of Digaru-Hojai (102 Km) has been taken up at an anticipated cost  of ` 871  Crore.    An  allocation  of ` 150  Crore  has  been  made  for  this project for the financial year 2017-18.  Similarly, doubling of BongaigaonJogighopa-Guwahati (176 Km) has been taken up at an anticipated cost of ` 2,232 Crore.  An allocation of ` 250 Crore has been made for this project for the financial year 2017-18. (e):  Electrification of New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati via Rangiya and Goalpara is a sanctioned work. The work for New Jalpaiguri-New Bongaigaon-RangiyaGuwahati has been entrusted to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and for New  Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Kamakhya,  it  has  been  entrusted  to  Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) for execution.  As regards doubling between New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati, the details are as under:New Jalpaiguri-Rani Nagar:  Already a double line. Rani Nagar to New Maynaguri: New Maynaguri-Gumanihat-New Coochbehar-Samuktala Road have been sanctioned. Samuktala Road-New Bongaigaon is already double line. New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Kamakhya (doubling) has been sanctioned.

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