Lok Sabha Question No. 2502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: New Railway Lines in Rajasthan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Raghu Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2502 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## NEW RAILWAY LINES IN RAJASTHAN

†2502. DR. RAGHU SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of new railway lines sanctioned in Rajasthan, year-wise from  June  2014  till  date along  with the details thereof and  the expenditure incurred thereon so far, year-wise;
- (b) the measures taken to provide basic amenities like modernisation of various railway stations, introduction of new trains and increase in other passenger  amenities  from  June  2014  till  date  including  expenditure incurred in this regard, year-wise;
- (c) whether the department proposes to sanction Ajmer-Sawai-Madhopur (Chauth Ka Barwada) via Kekari rail line;
- (d) if so, the details of the action plan and survey report prepared so far by the department;
- (e)  whether  the  department  proposes  to  sanction  railway  line  from Pushkar to Medta, if so, the details of the action plan and survey report prepared by the Government as on date; and
- (f) the extant rules for the allotment of tea stalls, book stalls etc. by the Railways  at  various  railway  stations  of  the  country  and  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(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.  2502  BY  DR.  RAGHU  SHARMA  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING NEW RAILWAY LINES IN RAJASTHAN

(a),  (c)  &  (d)  3  new  line  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  Rajasthan  have been included in Budget since 2014. The details are as under:-

## ( ` in crore)

|   S.No. | Name of the project                                                   | Year of inclusion in the Budget   |   Latest anticipa- ted cost |   Expendi- ture up to March, 2018 | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Ajmer(Nasirabad) -Swai Madhopur (Chauth Ka Barwara) via Tonk (165 Km) | 2015-16                           |                      873.71 |                               0.1 | The project was sanctioned with the proviso that Govt. of Rajasthan will provide land free cost and share 50% of the construction cost as per their commitment. Now state government has expressed their inability to materialize the same. However, Final Location survey at a cost of ` 5.4 crore for the project has been taken up and process |

|    |                                             |         |         |      | for bankability study has also been initiated.                                                                                                                                                            |
|----|---------------------------------------------|---------|---------|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  2 | Nimach-Choti Sadri-Badi Sadri (48 Km)       | 2017-18 |  495.18 | 0.05 | The project has been included in the Budget subject to requisite approvals from the Government. Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. The rate of return of project is negative i.e. (-) 3.51% |
|  3 | Taranga Hill-Abu Road via Ambaji (89.38 Km) | 2017-18 | 1695.72 | 0.1  | The project has been included in the Budget subject to requisite approvals from the Government. Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. The rate of return of the project is (-) 6.59%.          |

(b)  Upgradation  of  stations  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process  and works  in  this  regard  are  undertaken  depending  upon  need,  volume  of passenger traffic and inter-se priority of works, subject to availability of funds.  Upgradation  of  stations  has  been  undertaken  under  various modernization schemes such as Model Station Scheme, Modern Station Scheme  and  the  Adarsh  Station  Scheme.  At  present,  stations  are undertaken  for  development  under  'Adarsh  Station  Scheme'  which started  since  2009-10.    Adarsh  stations  are  provided  with  additional basic  facilities  such  as  improvement  to  the  façade,  waiting  room, landscaping of circulating area, signages, pay & use toilets, platforms, foot  over  bridge,  water  coolers,  passenger  reservation  system,  etc. Since 2009-10, 40 stations have been identified for development under this scheme in the State of Rajasthan.  Out of these, 09 stations have been identified from 2014-15 till date and are planned to be completed by 2018-19.

Expenditure  incurred  for  development  of  stations  under  'Adarsh' Station Scheme  is generally funded under Plan HeadPassenger Amenities and  maintained Zonal Railway-wise not State- wise. State of Rajasthan consists of major portion of  North Western Railway and small portions  of  Northern  Railway,    North  Central  Railway,  Western  Railway and West Central Railway.  Since 2014-15, an expenditure of ` 1511.07 crore has been incurred under Plan Head  'Passenger Amenities' so far by these Zonal Railways.

Like-wise,  Indian  Railways  also  introduce  trains  Zone-wise  not State-wise, whose jurisdiction cuts across the State boundaries. During the period June, 2014 to June, 2018, Indian Railways have introduced 11 pairs of Passenger and 19 pairs of Mail/Express trains originating/terminating  at  different  stations  located  in  the  State  of Rajasthan.

(e)  Pushkar-Merta  (59  Km)  new  line  project  has  been  included  in  the Budget  2013-14  subject  to  requisite  approvals  from  the  Government. Government of Rajasthan has been requested to provide land free of cost for the project and to share 50% cost of construction. Project could not be taken forward as it is financially not viable and there is large shelf of throwforward of ongoing projects.

(f)  As  per  the  Catering  Policy  2017  dated  27.02.2018,  Catering  stall including Tea stalls at station are to be allotted through tender system to highest eligible bidder. Tenders are invited by the Divisions from time to time as per requirement of Catering Units at stations to cater to the needs of travelling passengers.

Ministry of Railways has notified a new Multi Purpose Stall (MPS) policy  on  05.09.2017.  As  per  MPS  policy,  all  Miscellaneous/curio  stall, bookstalls (other than philanthropic), Chemist stalls/Corners have been brought under the purview of MPS Policy 2017. Accordingly, allotment of MPS at all category of stations will be done through e-tendering/normal tendering process. Financial bids will be called for from eligible bidders and licence will be awarded to the highest eligible bidder.

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