Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Gauge Conversion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 103 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## CONVERSION OF METER GAUGE INTO BROAD GAUGE

- † 103. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA: SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  convert  meter  gauge lines into broad gauge lines;
- (b)   the  details  of  the  gauge  conversion  works  undertaken  in Gujarat and Maharashtra during the last three years;
- (c)   the location-wise number of meter gauge rail lines in Gujarat and Maharashtra as on date; and
- (d)   the time by which the said work is likely to be completed?

## 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. 103 BY SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA AND SHRI ARVIND  SAWANT  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  16.11.2016 REGARDING CONVERSION OF METER GAUGE INTO BROAD GAUGE

(a):  As on 01.04.2016, Indian Railways have taken up 39 Gauge Conversion projects  for  converting  8470  Kms  of  Meter  Gauge/Narrow  Gauge  lines against which an outlay of ` 4342 Crore has been provided in Rail Budget 2016-17.

(b):    During the last three years i.e. 2013-14, 2014-15 & 2015-16, in Gujarat one  Gauge  Conversion  (GC)  project  i.e.  GC  of  Ahmedabad-  Mahesana  for doubling  (70  Km)  has  been  sanctioned  in  2015-16.    Total  cost  of  this project is ` 420 Crore and outlay for 2016-17 is ` 100 Crore.   In addition, in last three years one Gauge Conversion project falling in Maharashtra State i.e. Nagbhir-Nagpur (106 km) has been included in Budget 2013-14 at a cost of ` 401 Crore subject to requisite approvals.

(c):      As  on  31.03.2016,  105  Route  Track  KM  are  on  Meter  Gauge  in  the State of Maharashtra and 1193 Route Track Km are on Meter Gauge in the State of Gujarat details of which are Appended.

(d):    As  a  successful  execution  of  projects  requires  detailed  survey, geotechnical investigations, preparation of plan & designs, land acquisition,  inviting  &  finalization  of  tenders  and  execution,  it  is  not feasible to maintain date of actual start.  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;  and  also  clearances  of  Archeological 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. As many of these activities are beyond the control of Railways, it is not feasible to fix timelines for completion of all the projects.

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APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 103 BY SHRI PARBHUBHAI NGARBHAI VASA AND SHRI  ARVIND  SAWANT  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 16.11.2016  REGARDING  CONVERSION  OF  METER  GAUGE  INTO BROAD GAUGE

## Metre Gauge sections in Gujarat

| S.No.   | Section                 |      Km |
|---------|-------------------------|---------|
| 1       | Sabarmati-Botad         |  174.3  |
| 2       | Himmatnagar-Ahmedabad   |  147.25 |
| 3       | Ahmedabad-Khodiyar      |   17.41 |
| 4       | Mahesana-Khodiyar       |   51.37 |
| 5       | Himmatnagar-Khedbhrahma |   54.83 |
| 6       | Mahesana-Taranga Hill   |   56.35 |
| 7       | Kalol-Katosan Road      |   37.23 |
| 8       | Katosan Road-Chanasma   |   51.72 |
| 9       | Chanasma-Ranuj          |   12.84 |
| 10      | Adraj Moti-Vijapur      |   39.75 |
| 11      | Vijapur-Ambliysan       |   41.53 |
| 12      | Dhasa-Jetalsar          |  104.44 |
| 13      | Prachi Road-Kodinar     |   25.76 |
| 14      | Talala-Delwada          |   70.04 |
| 15      | Khijadiya-Veraval       |  163.78 |
| 16      | Junagadh-Visavadar      |   42.21 |
| 17      | New Bhuj-Naliya         |  101.84 |
| Total   |                         | 1192.65 |

## Metre Gauge sections in Maharashtra

|   S.No. | Section              |     Km |
|---------|----------------------|--------|
|       1 | Akola-Khandwa (Part) | 105.75 |

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