Lok Sabha Question No. 4136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Extension of Railway Line from Theni to Lower Camp
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4136 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## EXTENSION OF RAILWAY LINE FROM THENI TO LOWER CAMP

4136. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  for  the extension  of  railway  line  from  Theni  to  Lower  Camp  in  Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the present status of Sabari Rail project in Kerala; and
- (d) the time by which the said project is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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. 4136 BY ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.03.2020 REGARDING EXTENSION OF RAILWAY LINE FROM THENI TO LOWER CAMP

(a) and (b): Proposal/requests/representations from State Governments or various public representatives and other organisations for Railway works/projects are received at Divisional Offices, Zonal Offices and in the  Ministry  from  time  to  time.  As  receipt  of  such  proposal  is  a continuous and dynamic process and is spread over different departments  and  offices, compendium  of  such  proposals  is  not maintained.

However, Survey for a new line from Dindigul to Kumuli (Lower camp) via Theni (123 Km) has been completed in 2014.  The project could not be taken forward being financially unviable. Another survey for Dindigul-Sabrimala (201 Km) new Broad Gauge (BG) line has been sanctioned in 2016-17. Survey has been taken up. Proposed alignment will  pass  through  Theni and Lower camp area. Further consideration will be possible once survey report is finalised and results thereon are firmed up.

Budget  Allocation  (for  the  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  state  of Tamil Nadu)

Average  annual  Budget  Allocation  for  Infrastructure  &  Safety works, falling fully/partly in State of Tamil Nadu, has been increased to ` 1,979 crore, during 2014-19 from ` 879 crore during 2009-14.  Thus, the average  annual  budget  allocation  for  2014-19  is  125%  more  than average annual Budget allocation during 2009-14.

Total  Budget Estimate (BE) outlay  for Infrastructure  and Safety works,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  in  2019-2020  is ` 2,410 crore, which is 174% more than of the average annual Budget outlay of 2009-14.

Commissioning of Projects (falling fully/partly in State of Tamil Nadu)

During  2009-14,  923  Km  (101  Km  New  line,  595  Km  Gauge conversion and 227 Km Doubling) projects, falling fully/partly in State of Tamil Nadu have been commissioned at an average rate of 185 Km per year.

During 2014-19, 765 Km (326 Km Gauge conversion and 439 Km Doubling) projects falling fully/partly in State of Tamil Nadu have been commissioned at an average rate of 153 Km per year.

(c) and (d): Angamali-Sabarimala new rail line (116 Km) was included in  Budget    in  1997-98  at  a  cost  of ` 550  crore.  Against  this,  part estimate  for  long  lead  items  amounting  to ` 517.70  crore  including ` 58.76 crore as the land cost of the entire project, was sanctioned in May, 2006.

The  5  km  section  of  this  project  was  passing  through  Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest. On the request of State Government, the project was terminated at Erumeli due to reserve forest area.

Alignment  of  the  project  passes  through  three  Districts  i.e. Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam districts. Final location survey (FLS) for Angamali-Kaladi-Ramapuram section (70 Km)  has  been completed

in  2002  and  further  survey  in  the  Kottayam  district  was  stopped  by local people in 2007 due to objections on alignment.

Consequently,  in  this  project,  work  on  Angamali-Kaladi  (7  Km) and long lead works on Kaladi-Perumbavoor (10 Km) have been taken up. However, further works on this project could not be taken forward due to protests by local people against land acquisition and fixing of alignment  of  the  line,  court  cases  filed  against  the  project  and  noncooperation from the State Government of Kerala.

This has badly delayed the execution of the above project and as a result, project cost has increased exponentially from ` 550 crore in 1997  to ` 1566  crore  (including  land  cost  of ` 719  crore)  in  2011  and further, ` 2,815 crore (including land cost of ` 965 crore) in 2017.

As  taking    forward  of  this  project  showing  512%  increase  in project cost solely with Railway Funds was not possible, Railway had 06.09.2011, requested Government  of Kerala vide letters dated 22.12.2011, and 08.10.2012 to share atleast 50% cost of the project.

Government of Kerala vide their letter dated 27.11.2015 agreed to  share  50%  cost  of  the  project.  Government  of  Kerala  had  also identified this project for execution under Joint Venture Scheme with Ministry  of  Railways  and  therefor,  an  MoU  was  also  signed  on 01.09.2016.  Unfortunately, within a year, the State Government vide letter dated 15.11.2016 withdrew their own consent to share 50% cost of  the  project.    This  sudden  change  in  policy  was  surprising  and against the interest of developing Railways in Kerala, and brought into

question the State  Government's commitment  to  this important project.

However,  given  the  public  demand,  Railways  again  conducted detailed deliberations on the feasibility of taking forward this project vis-à-vis  the  availability  of  funds.  Due  to  significant  deficit,  it  was again decided by Railways in December, 2017 that the project should be undertaken on cost sharing basis.

Government  of  Kerala  was  again  requested  vide  letters  dated 06.02.2018 and 01.03.2018 for their consent to share atleast 50% cost of the project for the benefit of the State.  There has been no positive response to this offer.

As  the  State  Government  has  withdrawn  its  own  previously sanctioned  consent  to  share  50%  cost  of  the  project  and  is  not cooperating in resolving the various obstructions, Railways has decided to freeze further expenditure on this project temporarily, and keep execution of works in abeyance, in September, 2019.

Therefore, Ministry of Railway vide letter No. 93/W-I/Survey/SR/11 dated 11.01.2020 advised Government of Kerala that it is not feasible for  Railways in taking the project forward solely with Railway funds, and  therefore,  State  Government  of  Kerala  was  again  requested  to share  in  the  development  of  Railway  network  in  the  State.  This  will help Railways to provide the much required rail link for the travelling needs of local people and pilgrims to the Holy Shrine.

Budget  Allocation  (for  the  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of Kerala)

Average  annual  Budget  Allocation  for  Infrastructure  &  Safety works,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Kerala,  has  increased  to ` 950 crore,  during  2014-19,  from ` 372  crore  (during  2009-14).    Thus,  the average  annual  budget  allocation  for  2014-19  is  155%  more  than average annual Budget allocation during 2009-14.

Total  Budget  Estimate (BE) outlay  for  Infrastructure  and  Safety works, falling fully/partly in State of Kerala, in 2019-2020 is ` 667 crore, which is 79% more than the average annual Budget outlay of 2009-14.

Commissioning of Projects (falling fully/partly in State of Kerala)

During 2009-14, 53 Km (7 Km New line, 10 Km Gauge conversion and  36  Km  Doubling)  projects,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Kerala have been commissioned at an average rate of 11 Km per year.

During  2014-19,  89  Km  (29  Km  Gauge  conversion  and  60  Km Doubling)  projects,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Kerala  have  been commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  18  Km  per  year,  which  is  68% more commissioning than during 2009-14.

The  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 conditions, encountering unforeseen conditions like earthquake, flooding, excessive rains, strikes of labour, orders of Hon'ble Courts, situation  and  conditions  of  working  agencies/contractors    etc.    All these factors vary from project to project and site to site and affect the  completion time and cost of the project, which is finally worked out  at  the  completion  stage.  Therefore,  confirmed  time  line  for completion of project cannot be ascertained at this stage.

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