Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Gauge Conversion and New Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR SONKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 55

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## GAUGE CONVERSION AND NEW LINES

- † 55.  SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Railways  have  conducted  any  survey  for  laying new rail lines and gauge conversion of old ones and electrification  of  such  lines  in  various  States  including  Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)   if so, the location-wise details of length of new railway lines to be laid and length of lines for gauge conversion and electrification in various States including Uttar Pradesh;
- (c)   the plan of Government for laying new lines, gauge conversion and electrification in the current financial year; and
- (d)   whether the Railways propose to lay dedicated freight corridors and 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. 55 BY SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK  SABHA  ON  16.11.2016  REGARDING  GAUGE  CONVERSION  AND  NEW LINES

(a):      Since  railway  projects  generally  straddle  over  more  than  one  State, these are neither surveyed nor sanctioned State-wise.   Survey for new lines, gauge  conversion  of  Meter  Gauge  lines  to  Broad  Gauge  and  Railway Electrification of these lines is a continuous and ongoing process of Indian Railways  and  are  done  based  on  demands  raised  by  State  Governments, Central  Ministries,  Members  of  Parliament,  other  public  representatives  & Railway's own requirement. Based on the outcome of the survey projects are taken up on the basis of remunerativeness, last mile connectivity, missing links  and  alternate  routes,    augmentation  of  congested/saturated  lines, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

(b):    In last three years and current financial year, surveys for 176 New Line and  8  Gauge  Conversion  surveys  have  been  completed  throughout  the country  including  that  of  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh.    Out  of  these,  11  nos.  of new line projects and 1 no. of Gauge Conversion project have been included in Budget/sanctioned & electrification of such lines depends upon operational requirement & financial remunerativeness. As on 01.04.2016, a total of 166 ongoing New Lines, 39 Gauge Conversion projects spread across the country including the State of Uttar Pradesh have been taken up.  Details of  the  projects  are  available  in  Pink  Book  laid  on  the  Table  of  the  House alongwith Budget papers on 25.02.2016.

(c): Target length of various Railway Projects for introduction of passenger/freight services over is fixed on annual basis.  For 2016-17, target of 2800 Km section for introduction of Passenger/Freight services has been fixed and for Electrification, a target of 2000 Kms has been fixed.

(d):   Two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) viz.  Eastern Corridor (DankuniLudhiana,  1856  Km)  and  the  Western  Corridor  (Jawaharlal  Nehru  Port Terminal/JNPT-Dadri, 1504 Km) have been taken up.

*****