Lok Sabha Question No. 1145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Gauge Conversion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA, GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## GAUGE CONVERSION

1145. SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA: SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of railway projects viz, new  railway lines,  gauge conversion doubling and electrification under construction in Rajasthan and Gujarat;
- (b) the number of projects that have completed their targeted date and are pending for more than three years;
- (c) whether any plan has been chalked out to complete these projects on priority  basis,  especially  those  located  in  the  backward  region  of Rajasthan; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1145 BY SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA AND SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.02.2017 REGARDING GAUGE CONVERSION

## (a)  &  (b):  The  details  of  ongoing  new  line,  gauge  conversion,  doubling and electrification projects falling fully/partly in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat are as under;

( ` in crore)

| Sl. No.          | Name of the Project (km)                                                                              | Year of inclusion/ sanction   | Latest Anticipated Cost   | Expenditure by 31.03.2016   | Outlay 2016-17   |
|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
| New Line         | New Line                                                                                              | New Line                      | New Line                  | New Line                    | New Line         |
| 1                | Ajmer (Nasirabad)- Swai Madhopur (Chauth ka Barwara) via Tonk (165)                                   | 2015-16                       | 873.00                    | 0.01                        | 3.00             |
| 2                | Dausa-Gangapur City (93)                                                                              | 1996-97                       | 656.00                    | 307.00                      | 15.00            |
| 3                | Ramganjmandi- Bhopal (262)                                                                            | 2000-01                       | 2348.00                   | 325.00                      | 100.00           |
| 4                | Ratlam-Dungarpur via Banswara (176)                                                                   | 2011-12                       | 3450.00                   | 383.00                      | 80.00            |
| 5                | Thiyat Hamira-Sanu (59)                                                                               | 2013-14                       | 262.00                    | 11.00                       | 20.00            |
| 6                | Bhimnath-Dholera (28)                                                                                 | 2016-17                       | 280.00                    | 0.00                        | 0.02             |
| 7                | Chhota Udepur-Dhar (157)                                                                              | 2007-08                       | 1824.00                   | 270.00                      | 100.00           |
| 8                | Dahod-Indore Via Sardarpur, Jhabua & Dhar (200.97) incl.MM for change in alignment via Amjhera (4.82) | 2007-08                       | 1942.00                   | 334.00                      | 100.00           |
| Gauge Conversion | Gauge Conversion                                                                                      | Gauge Conversion              | Gauge Conversion          | Gauge Conversion            | Gauge Conversion |
| 9                | Ahmedabad- Himmatnagar- Udaipur inclu.Modasa- Shamlaji Road (322)                                     | 2008-09                       | 1662.00                   | 234.00                      | 675.00           |
| 10               | Ajmer-Chittaurgarh- Udaipur incl. Material Modification for extension from                            | 1996-97                       | 865.00                    | 537.00                      | 15.00            |

| Sl. No.   | Name of the Project (km)                                                                        | Year of inclusion/ sanction   | Latest Anticipated Cost   | Expenditure by 31.03.2016   | Outlay 2016-17   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
|           | Udaipur-Umra with Mavali-Badi Saadri and Nathadwara- New Nathdwara (404)                        |                               |                           |                             |                  |
| 11        | Dholpur-Sirmuttra with extension to Gangapur City (145)                                         | 2010-11                       | 2530.00                   | 36.00                       | 50.00            |
| 12        | Gwalior- Sheopurkalan with extension to Kota (284)                                              | 2010-11                       | 3845.00                   | 8.00                        | 35.00            |
| 13        | Jaipur-Ringus-Churu & Sikar-Loharu (320)                                                        | 2008-09                       | 915.00                    | 454.00                      | 100.00           |
| 14        | Sadulpur-Bikaner & Ratangarh-Degana with Ratangarh- Sardarshahar as Material Modification (438) | 2007-08                       | 886.00                    | 814.00                      | 10.00            |
| 15        | Suratpura- Hanumangarh- Sriganganagar                                                           | 2008-09                       | 732.00                    | 676.00                      | 174.00           |
| 16        | Ahmedabad-Botad (170)                                                                           | 2012-13                       | 567.00                    | 22.00                       | 102.00           |
| 17        | Ahmedabad- Mehsana (69)                                                                         | 2015-16                       | 478.00                    | 0.00                        | 100.00           |
| 18        | Bhildi-Viramgam with new MM for Mehsana-Taranga hill (214)                                      | 1990-91                       | 682.00                    | 236.00                      | 200.00           |
| 19        | Bhuj-Naliya with extn. From Naliya to Vayor (126)                                               | 2008-09                       | 484.00                    | 40.00                       | 100.00           |
| 20        | Dhasa-Jetalsar (104)                                                                            | 2012-13                       | 644.00                    | 0.11                        | 42.00            |
| 21        | Miyagam-Karjan- Dabhoi-Samalaya GC with electrification (96)                                    | 2011-12                       | 935.00                    | 0.79                        | 15.00            |
| 22        | Rajkot-Veraval Wansjalia-Jetalsar with new MM for Shaput-Saradiya                               | 1994-95                       | 1329.00                   | 508.00                      | 50.00            |

| Sl. No.         | Name of the Project (km)                                                  | Year of inclusion/ sanction   | Latest Anticipated Cost   | Expenditure by 31.03.2016   | Outlay 2016-17   |
|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
|                 | Veraval-Somnath NL & Somnath-Dodinar (364)                                |                               |                           |                             |                  |
| Doubling        | Doubling                                                                  | Doubling                      | Doubling                  | Doubling                    | Doubling         |
| 23              | Abu Road-Sarotra Road (23)                                                | 2010-11                       | 161.00                    | 137.00                      | 5.00             |
| 24              | Ajmer-Bangurgram (48)                                                     | 2011-12                       | 262.00                    | 22.00                       | 60.00            |
| 25              | Alwar-Bandikui (60)                                                       | 2013-14                       | 242.00                    | 9.00                        | 70.00            |
| 26              | Bangurgram-Guriya (47)                                                    | 2012-13                       | 295.00                    | 5.00                        | 42.00            |
| 27              | Bina-Kota (283)                                                           | 2011-12                       | 1623.00                   | 79.00                       | 210.00           |
| 28              | Guriya-Marwar (44) & Karjoda- Palanpur(5)                                 | 2011-12                       | 247.00                    | 131.00                      | 156.00           |
| 29              | Nimuch- Chittaurgarh (56)                                                 | 2015-16                       | 260.00                    | 0.00                        | 125.00           |
| 30              | Phulera-Degana (109)                                                      | 2015-16                       | 600.00                    | 0.00                        | 290.00           |
| 31              | Rani-Keshavganj (60)                                                      | 2011-12                       | 318.00                    | 187.00                      | 50.00            |
| 32              | Rani-Marwar Jn (55)                                                       | 2012-13                       | 336.00                    | 83.00                       | 105.00           |
| 33              | Swaroopganj-Abu Road (25)                                                 | 2010-11                       | 165.00                    | 119.00                      | 10.00            |
| 34              | Palanpur- Samakhayali (275)                                               | 2013-14                       | 1267.00                   | 55.00                       | 151.00           |
| 35              | Surendranagar- Rajkot (116)                                               | 2015-16                       | 1315.00                   | 0.00                        | 240.00           |
| 36              | Udhna-Jalgaon with electrification (307)                                  | 2008-09                       | 2164.00                   | 1514.00                     | 825.00           |
| 37              | Vatva-Ahmedabad- 3rd line with Automatic Signalling (8)                   | 2013-14                       | 42.00                     | 12.00                       | 15.00            |
| 38              | Vatva-Ahmedabad- Sabarmati 4th line (18)                                  | 2015-16                       | 231.00                    | 0.00                        | 85.00            |
| 39              | Viramgam- Samakhiali Railway (182)                                        | 2011-12                       | 1196.00                   | 494.00                      | 365.00           |
| Electrification | Electrification                                                           | Electrification               | Electrification           | Electrification             | Electrification  |
| 40              | Delhi Sarai Rohilla- Rewari-Palanpur- Ahmedabad, incl. Kalol-Gandhinagar- | 2013-14                       | 1295.00                   | 133.00                      | 450.00           |

| Sl. No.   | Name of the Project (km)                                                        | Year of inclusion/ sanction   | Latest Anticipated Cost   | Expenditure by 31.03.2016   | Outlay 2016-17   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
|           | Khodiyar and Alwar- Bandikui-Jaipur- Phulera (1087)                             |                               |                           |                             |                  |
| 41        | Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Ringas (188)                                              | 2016-17                       | 163.73                    | 0.00                        | 0.01             |
| 42        | Hisar-Bhatinda- Suratgarh-Phalodi- Jodhpur-Bhildi incl Phalodi-Jaisalmer (1230) | 2015-16                       | 1036.00                   | 0.20                        | 50.00            |
| 43        | Idgah-Achnera- Mathura & Achnera- Bharatpur (87)                                | 2015-16                       | 104.00                    | 4.00                        | 12.00            |
| 44        | Ratlam-Nimach- Chanderia-Kota (348)                                             | 2015-16                       | 297.00                    | 0.01                        | 10.00            |
| 45        | Samkhiyali- Gandhidham-Kandla Port-Mundra Port (63)                             | 2016-17                       | 76.00                     | 0.00                        | 0.01             |
| 46        | Ajmer-Berach-Mavli- Udaipur (294)                                               | 2015-16                       | 314.00                    | 0.20                        | 19.00            |
| 47        | Ahmedabad-Rajkot (233)                                                          | 2015-16                       | 320.00                    | 0.01                        | 30.00            |
| 48        | Mehsana-Viramgam- Samakhiyali (292)                                             | 2015-16                       | 318.00                    | 0.01                        | 37.00            |

(c) & (d): A Railway project requires a number of clearances from various Ministries and Departments of State/Central Governments. These, interalia, include clearances inherent to land acquisition, forestry clearance and  permission  for  crossing  from  departments  like  National  Highway Authority of India, Public Works Departments, Irrigation canals etc; and also  clearances  of  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  if  the  alignment passes  in  vicinity  of  a  protected  monument,  local  bodies  for  projects passing  through  urban  areas,  etc  which  are  part  of  project  execution. Process of seeking the approvals/clearances causes delay in completion of  the  projects.  In  addition,  as  per  the  prevailing  system,  funds  are allocated on yearly basis based on the basis of Gross Budgetary Support from Ministry of Finance. As many factors responsible for completion of a project are beyond the control of Ministry of Railways, it is not feasible to fix time frame for completion of all projects.

However,  to  expedite  railway  projects  various  steps  have  been taken,  which  inter-alia  include  funding  through  institutional  financing, market borrowings and Public Private Partnership and award of turn-key contracts, cultivation of new agencies for works, better project monitoring  mechanism,  enhancing  power  of  field  units  for  award  of contracts including sanction of estimates and increasing the number of executing agencies.

*****