Lok Sabha Question No. 6081 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Strategic Railway Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, KAMAL NATH, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6081 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## STRATEGIC RAILWAY LINES

6081. DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRI KAMAL NATH:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has sanctioned the construction of strategic railway lines at Indo-China border and if so, the details thereof indicating the date and the funds earmarked for the said project;

- (b) whether the Railway has conducted final location survey and if so, the details thereof along with its outcome;

- (c) whether  the  decision  to  construct  the  said  strategic  rail  lines  at  Indo- China border has come to a dead end to some extent and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

- (d) whether  there  is no  consensus  between  his Ministry and the Ministry of  Defence  regarding  the  priority  of  the  said  project  and  if  so,  the reasons therefor;

- (e) whether  the  funds  have  not  been  provided  for  the  said  project  so  far despite  the  sanction  of  the  Government  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and

- (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely commencement and completion of strategic projects in view of National Security?

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6081 BY DR. PRITMAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRI  DHARMENDRA  YADAV,  SHRI  JYOTIRADITYA  M.  SCINDIA,    SHRI KAMAL NATH,  SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT,  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE,    SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL  AND  DR.    SHRIKANT  EKNATH SHINDE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.04.2018 REGARDING STRATEGIC RAILWAY LINES

(a) to (f):   The proposal for construction of Railway lines towards China border  has  been  initiated  by  Ministry  of  Defence  as  a  strategic  line. Ministry of Defence has identified four strategic lines along India-China border viz. (i) Missamari - Tenga - Tawang (378 Km) (ii) Bilaspur - Manali -  Leh  (498  Km)  (iii)  Pasighat  -  Tezu  -  Rupai  (227  Km)  and  (iv)  North Lakhimpur - Bame (Along)-Silapathar (249 Km). Ministry of Defence has provided funds to Ministry of Railways for carrying out Final Location Survey  (FLS)  of  these  four  indentified  strategic  lines  and  Ministry  of Railways  has  taken  up  these  FLS.  The  undulating  terrain  of  young Himalayas and difficult geological conditions are affecting the pace of survey  undertaken.  However,  all  government  agencies  working  in  the area and having specialization in the survey in these difficult geographical  and  geological  areas  are  meeting  regularly  for  early completion of this Final Location Surveys. Decision regarding sanction and commencement of these projects will be taken up after completion of FLS.

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