Lok Sabha Question No. 4008 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: New Trains to Amritsar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4008 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## NEW TRAINS TO AMRITSAR

4008. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  new  trains  to  Amritsar from  other  parts  of  the  country  keeping  in  view  Guru  Nanak  Dev  550 Parkash Purb in 2019 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is any plan to run special trains from Amritsar to Dera Baba Nanakpura, If so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  new  tracks  in  kilometers  that  have  been  laid  by  the  Northern Railway during the last one year and the new tracks in kilometers that are going to be laid in 2019 along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (c)  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4008 BY SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.07.2019 REGARDING NEW TRAINS TO AMRITSAR

(a)  and  (b)    In  order  to  facilitate  pilgrims  and  tourists  visiting  550 th   birth anniversary  of  Shri  Guru  Nanak  Devji,  Indian  Railways  have  decided  to convert  12037/12038  New  Delhi  -Ludhiana  Shatabadi  Express  into  an Intercity Express and extend it upto Lohian Khas via Sultanpur Lodhi Station on three days, a week, but at present, there is no proposal to introduce new train  services  to  Amritsar  from  other  parts  of  the  country  and  to  operate special trains from Amritsar to Dera Baba Nanakpura station.

However, to cater to the extra rush of passengers, Indian Railways do operate  special  trains  to  supplement  and  augment  the  availability  of accommodation to the travelling passengers.

(c)   59.5 Kms. of New tracks have been laid by Northern Railway during the last one year i.e. Financial Year 2018-19 as per details given below:

| S.No.   | New Lines / Doubling   | Project                                                                 | Name of Section to be commissioned   |   Length In Km. |
|---------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|
| 1       | New Line               | Nangaldam-Talwara (84 km) & taking over siding Mukerian-Talwara (29 km) | Amb Andaura- Daulatpur chowk         |            16   |
| 2       | Doubling               | Lohta-Bhadohi                                                           | Sewapuri-Parsipur                    |            14   |
| 3       | Doubling               | Bhadohi-Janghai                                                         | Suriawan-Janghai                     |            16   |
| 4       | Doubling               | Varanasi City-Varanasi Cantt-Mundaudih                                  | Varanasi City- Varanasi Cantt        |             1.8 |
|         | Doubling               |                                                                         | Varanasi Cantt- Manduadih            |             1.2 |
| 5       | Doubling               | Mansa-Bhatinda                                                          | Cabin C-Bhatinda                     |             2   |
|         |                        |                                                                         | Total                                |            59.5 |

The details of all works in progress and new works, allotment of funds and  expenditure  are  available  in  Pink  Book  2019-20,  which  is  made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in> Ministry of Railways > Railway Board >About Indian Railways > Railway Board Directorates > Finance (Budget) >. The  timely  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on  various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities (both underground and over ground), statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and  order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic considerations, encountering unforeseen conditions like earthquake, flooding, excessive rains, strikes of labour,  orders  of  Hon'ble  Courts,  situation  and  conditions   of  working agencies/contractors etc. and all these factors affects the completion time and cost of the project, which is finally worked out at the completion stage. As such, no confirmed time frame can be fixed for completion of project at this stage.

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