Lok Sabha Question No. 2031 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: High Speed Rail Corridor
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2031 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR

## 2031. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has a plan to connect all State capitals of North Eastern States with rest of India with rail network by the year 2021;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the progress of action taken in this regard and the total amount sanctioned thereof;
- (c) the  time  by  which  the  project  is  likely  to  be  completed  and whether it would be able to meet the deadline of 2020;
- (d) if  so,  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  a  High  Speed  Rail Corridor between Kolkata-Guwahati and Kolkata-Delhi routes; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2031 BY SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR

(a) to (c): As  per  Vision  Document  2020,  Government  has  planned  to connect  all  State  Capitals  of  North  Eastern  States  by  2020  except Sikkim in which case, new line work has been sanctioned up to Rangpo in  first  phase.  The  capitals  of  Assam,  Arunachal  Pradesh  and  Tripura States have been connected by Broad Gauge (BG) rail network.

Great emphasis has been given by Central Government during last 5  years  towards  quick  execution  of  infrastructure  and  safety  projects and funding to the infrastructure projects has increased considerably. The  average  annual  expenditure  in  New  Line  /  Gauge  Conversion  / Doubling infrastructure projects during 2014-19 was ` 25,894 crore per year as against ` 11,527 crore per year during 2009-14 which is around 125%  more  than  during  2009-14.    The  average  allotment  per  year  for North Eastern States was ` 2,121 crore per year from 2009-14.  However, it  increased 161% to ` 5,531 crore per year for this region during 201419.

In  Arunachal  Pradesh,  a  BG  railway  line  was  commissioned  in February,  2015  upto  Naharlagun  (suburban  city  of  Itanagar)  and  first Broad  Gauge  (BG)  train  was  flagged  by  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  on 20.02.2015 from Naharlagun (Itanagar) to New Delhi. Long pending and delayed work of Bogibeel Bridge on Brahmaputra river was completed in 2018 leading to further  reduction of  travel  distance  from  Dibrugarh  to Naharlagun (Itanagar) by 705 km (via Guwahati).

First BG trial train to the State of Tripura (Agartala) was received by  Hon'ble  Minister  of  State  of  Railways  on  13.01.2016  and  first  BG passenger train (long distance) was introduced to Delhi on 31.07.2016.

In  some  States,  the  progress  of  new  line  projects  of  Capital connectivity has been affected mainly due to delay in land acquisition and law & order issues. All these Capital connectivity projects being in hilly  terrain  of  Himalayas  involve  large  number  of  tunnels  and  major bridges  including  very  tall  bridges  in  a  very  challenging  geological environment.

Works  of  new  BG  lines  have  been  taken  up  to  connect  the remaining  Capitals  of  North  Eastern  States  i.e.  Meghalaya  (Shillong), Manipur  (Imphal),  Nagaland  (Kohima),  Mizoram  (Aizawl)  and  Sikkim (Gangtok). Details with present status of these projects are as under:

(1) Manipur: The  project  of  BG  line  connectivity  from  Jiribam  to Imphal  (110.62  km)  in  Manipur  State  was  sanctioned  in  2003-04.  The latest anticipated cost of the project is ` 13,809 crore and expenditure of ` 6,969.49 crore has been incurred on the project upto 31.03.2019.

The section from Jiribam to Vangaichungpao (12 km) was commissioned  in  March,  2017  and  works  from  Vangaichungpao-TupulImphal (98.62 km) have been taken up throughout the length.  The work of  land  acquisition  has  been  completed  in  102.62  km  length  of  the project and work of acquisition of balance land of 8 km length has been taken up. Target date for completion is 3 years after complete land is handed over to the Railways.

(2)  Mizoram: The  project  of  BG  line  connectivity  from  Bhairabi  to Sairang (51.38 km) (suburban city of Aizawl, the Capital city of Mizoram) in Mizoram was sanctioned in 2008-09.  The latest anticipated cost of the project is ` 4,968 crore and the land could be made available in 201415 and work speeded up from 2015-16 and the expenditure of ` 1,958.09 crore has been incurred on the project upto 31.03.2019.

The construction work has been taken up throughout the length of project and 80% tunneling work has been completed and the work on 6 tall  bridges  has  been  taken  up.    For  complete  commissioning  of  the project,  the  work  of  acquisition  of  balance  53.90  Hectare  of  land  has been  taken  up.    Target  date  for  completion  for  complete  project  is  2 years after complete land is handed over to Railways.

(3) Nagaland: The  project  of  BG  line  connectivity  from  Dimapur (Dhansiri)  -    Zubza  (Kohima)  (82.50  km)  (suburban  city  of  Kohima,  the Capital city of Nagaland) in Nagaland was sanctioned in 2006-07.  The latest  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ` 3,000  crore  and  the  work speeded up from September, 2018 and the expenditure of ` 626.67 crore has been incurred on the project upto 31.03.2019.

The construction work has been taken up throughout the length of project.  For complete commission of the project, the work of acquiring balance  land  in  6  km  length  has  been  taken  up  (ownership  disputes). Target  date  for  completion  for  complete  project  is  3  years  after complete land is handed over to Railways.

Contd…...4

- (4) Meghalaya:   Two projects of BG line have been taken up for Capital connectivity of Meghalaya.
2. (i) New BG line from Tetelia - Byrnihat (21.50 km) in Meghalaya was sanctioned  in  2006-07.  The  latest  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ` 1,532 crore and the work speeded up from 2014-15, 10 km length of the project falling in Assam State from Tetelia to Kamalajari got completed in  October,  2018  and  expenditure  of ` 515.82  crore  has  been  incurred upto 31.03.2019. Some  organizations  are  stating that a railway connectivity  may  lead  to  influx  of  outsiders  and  this  has  led  to  some local resistance to this project.  Now, the issue has been taken up for early  resolution.  Target  date  for  completion  not  fixed,  as  the  same would be decided, once the complete land is physically handed over to Railways.
3. (ii) New BG line from Byrnihat to Shillong (108.40 km) was sanctioned in  2010-11.    The  latest  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ` 6,000  crore and the expenditure of ` 252.68 crore has been incurred on the project upto  31.03.2019.    Target  date  for  completion  not  fixed,  as  the  same would be decided, once the land is physically handed over to Railways.
- (5)  Sikkim:  The project of BG line connectivity from Sivok to Rangpo (44.39 km) was sanctioned in 2008-09.  The latest anticipated cost of the project is ` 4,085.69 crore and the expenditure of ` 554.46 crore has been incurred on the project upto 31.03.2019.

However, the project is suffering for a long time as the Government of West Bengal has not given encumbrance free land (77.78 Hectare forest land after cutting of trees) to Railway due to which, even the timely finalization of tenders is getting affected.  The issue is being consistently chased with Government of West Bengal.  Target date for completion  for  complete  project  is  3  years  after  complete  physical possession of land given to Railways.

- (d): No, Sir.  There is no such proposal.
- (e): Does not arise.

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