Lok Sabha Question No. 4059 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Expansion of Rail Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4059 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

4059. DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  any  proposal  for  expansion  of  rail network across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  total  number  of  expansion  of  rail  network  under  process, State/zone-wise;
- (d) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  expand  the  rail  network  in Southern Railways; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## 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.4059  BY  DR.  T.R.  PAARIVENDHAR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.03.2020 REGARDING EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

(a)  to  (e):  Yes,  Sir.  Railways  is  giving  a  big  thrust  to  infrastructure creation and capacity augmentation. Railway Projects are taken up on the basis of remunerativeness, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate  routes,    augmentation  of  congested/saturated  lines,  socioeconomic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects,  overall  availability  of  funds  and  competing  demands  and sanctioning of projects is a continuous process.

Railway  Projects  are  sanctioned  Zone-wise  and  not  State-wise,  as, Indian Railway's network is straddled across various State boundaries. Further,  details  of  ongoing  Railway  Projects  in  the  country  including Southern Railway is appended and with progressive commissioning of sections, existing rail network would also expand accordingly.

The  project-wise  detail  including  cost,  expenditure  and  outlay  are 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) >Pink  Book  (year)  >Railway-wise  Works  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock Programme.

## BUDGET ALLOCATION ON INDIAN RAILWAYS

Average Annual Budget allotment for New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling Projects on Indian Railways, during 2014-19 has increased to ` 26,026 crore, from ` 11,527 crore (during 2009-14), which is 126% more as compared to average allotment during 2009-14.

Total Budget Estimate (BE) Outlay for New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling Projects on Indian Railways in 2019-20 was ` 30,198, which has further  been  increased  to ` 38,803  in  Revised  Budget  Outlay.  This  is 237%  more  as  compared  to  average  annual  budget  allotment  during 2009-14. ( ` 11,527)

## COMMISSIONING OF NEW LINE, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING

During  2009-14,  7599  km  length  (New  Line,  Gauge  Conversion  and Doubling)  has  been  commissioned  on  Indian  Railways.  Further,  during 2014-19, 13,124 km length (New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling) has  been  commissioned  on  Indian  Railways,  which  is  73%  more  than commissioning during 2009-14.

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APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4059 BY DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.03.2020 REGARDING EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

- (a) to (e): Details of New Lines, Doubling and Gauge Conversion in the Country including Southern Railway is as under:-

## ONGOING NEW LINE, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING PROJECTS:

| Plan Head        | No of Projects   | Total Length (in km)   | Length Commissioned till Mar'19 (in Km)   | Anticipated Cost ( ` in crore)   | Total Exp upto Mar'19 ( ` in crore)   | Budget Estimate Outlay for 2019-20 ( ` in crore)   |
|------------------|------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| INDIAN RAILWAYS: | INDIAN RAILWAYS: | INDIAN RAILWAYS:       | INDIAN RAILWAYS:                          | INDIAN RAILWAYS:                 | INDIAN RAILWAYS:                      | INDIAN RAILWAYS:                                   |
| New lines        | 188              | 21,295                 | 2,622                                     | 3,87,154                         | 85,536                                | 14,848                                             |
| Gauge Conversion | 55               | 7,275                  | 3,573                                     | 56,135                           | 19,640                                | 3,465                                              |
| Doubling         | 255              | 20,500                 | 2,784                                     | 2,31,978                         | 48,342                                | 18,301                                             |
| TOTAL            | 498              | 49,069                 | 8,979                                     | 6,75,267                         | 1,53,518                              | 36,614                                             |

In addition, 5 New Line works of 432 km length, costing ` 6,419 crore and 32 Doubling works of 4,536 km length, costing ` 47,547 crore have been included in Budget of financial year 2020-21 against Umbrella work of 2019-20.

## SOUTHERN RAILWAY:-

| Plan Head        |   No of Projects | Total Length (in km)   |   Length Commissioned till Mar'19 (in Km) | Anticipated Cost ( ` in crore)   | Total Exp upto Mar'19 ( ` in crore)   | Budget Estimate Outlay for 2019-20 ( ` in crore)   |
|------------------|------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| New lines        |               11 | 1,017                  |                                         0 | 14,905                           | 751                                   | 52                                                 |
| Gauge Conversion |                4 | 849                    |                                       546 | 4,059                            | 2,425                                 | 240                                                |
| Doubling         |               19 | 1,174                  |                                       146 | 13,163                           | 2,227                                 | 862                                                |
| TOTAL            |               34 | 3,040                  |                                       692 | 32,127                           | 5,403                                 | 1,154                                              |

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