Lok Sabha Question No. 5994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Survey of Railway Projects in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5994 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## SURVEY OF RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KERALA

5994. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  and  the  present  status  of  ongoing  railway  projects including survey of projects in Kerala, project-wise;
- (b) the details of funds allocated/spent thereon, project-wise;
- (c) the time-frame set for completion of these projects; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard?

## 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.  5994  BY  SHRI M.B. RAJESH  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.04.2018  REGARDING  SURVEY  OF 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  for  2017-18    and status of projects including survey involved thereon are as under:-

( ` in Crore)

| S. No.   | Project                       | Latest Estimated cost   | Expenditure upto March, 2017   | Outlay 2017- 18   | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          | NEW LINE                      |                         |                                |                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 1.       | Tirunavaya- Guruvayur (35 Km) | 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 2.       | Angamali- Sabrimala (116 Km)  | 2815                    | 218.45                         | 213.59            | protest. On this project, work on Angamali-Kaladi section (7 Km) is in advance stage which, however is stuck for want of 0.6 hectare land. For balance length, land acquisition has delayed due to protest by local people against fixing of alignment of the project in Kottayam District. In view of considerable increase in project cost due to abnormal increase in land cost, Government of Kerala has been requested for their consent to share 50% cost of the project. |

|    | GAUGE CONVERSION                                                 |      |         |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------|------|---------|-------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1. | Quilon- Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur &Tenkasi- Virudhunagar (357 Km) | 1122 | 1060.45 | 41.48 | 336 Km. has been commissioned. Remaining section i.e. New Ariyankavu- Edamann (21 Km) falling in Kerala area is in advance stage of completion.                                                                                                             |
|    | DOUBLING                                                         |      |         |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 1  | Ernakulam- Kumbalam (7.71 Km)                                    | 189  | 8.20    | 30    | In view of considerable increase in project cost due to abnormal rise in cost of land, Government of Kerala 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)                                     | 253  | 6.97    | 65    | In view of considerable increase in project cost due to abnormal rise in cost of land, Government of Kerala 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)                                  | 289  | 194.49  | 38.45 | Earthwork, bridges & ballast supply works have been taken up.                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 4. | Kuruppantara -Chingavanam (27 Km)                                | 457  | 177.01  | 100   | Kuruppantara-Ettumannur (8 Km) is in advance stage. State Government has to expedite handing over of 7.02 hectare of land to Railways.                                                                                                                      |

|   5. | Chingavanam- Chengannur (27 Km)                |   436 |   307.43 |   33.63 | Chengannur-Changanassery section (17 Km) commissioned. Work on balance section is in advance stage.                                          |
|------|------------------------------------------------|-------|----------|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    6 | Thiruvanant hapuram- Kanniyaku mari (86.50 Km) |  1432 |     2    |      50 | Requisite clearances to take up work on this project have been obtained in 2017. Detailed Estimate sanctioned and land acquisition taken up. |
|    7 | Turavur- Ambalapuzha (50 Km)                   |   829 |     0.48 |      30 | Project has been deferred till the consent of State Government for cost sharing and providing free land is received.                         |

Besides  above,    Shoranur-Ernakulam  3 rd   line  project  (107  Km)  has been included in the Budget 2018-19 at a cost of ` 1518 crore.

Execution/completion  of  projects  depends  on  a  number  of  factors such as statutory clearances, acquisition of land, shifting of various utility services  etc.  Therefore,  it  is  not  feasible  to  give  fixed  time  lines  for completion of the project.

(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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