Lok Sabha Question No. 1544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Udaipur-Ahmedabad Gauge Conversion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1544 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## UDAIPUR-AHMEDABAD GAUGE CONVERSION

## †1544.       SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the budget allocated for metre gauge to broad gauge conversion  of  Udaipur-Ahmedabad  Section  along  with  the amount so far spent out of this budget;
- (b) the time by which the said conversion is likely be completed;

to

- (c) the total length of metre gauge to be converted into broad  gauge  along  with  the  length  of  tract  converted  into broad gauge;
- (d) the  number  of  tunnels  in  the  way  of  said  gauge  conversion along  with  the  time  by  which  the  work  of  these  tunnels  are likely to be completed; and
- (e) the  number  of  railway  stations  upgraded  in  the  said  gauge conversion along with the details of the facilities likely to be made available?

## 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.1544 BY SHRI  ARJUN LAL  MEENA  TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2019 REGARDING UDAIPURAHMEDABAD GAUGE CONVERSION

is

(a) to (d): Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur gauge conversion including  Modasa-Shamlaji Road new line project (317.73 Km) was sanctioned in 2008-09 and the latest cost of the project ` 1667 crore and expenditure of ` 1234 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019. An outlay of ` 532.38 crore has been provided for the complete project during 2019-20.

Due to limited  availability  of  funds  in  the  earlier  years,  there has been little progress on this project.  However, since 2014-15, the Budget  allotment  for  this  project  has  improved  and  the  project execution work has been expedited.

Gauge  conversion  work  of  Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar  (87.25 Km)  section  has  been  completed  upto  March,  2019  and  work  has been taken up in balance Himmatnagar-Udaipur section and project is progressing well. Also, sufficient funds have been made available during 2019-20 to the project for early completion.

During financial year 2019-20, 24 Km  long  section from Himmatnagar-Raighadh Road has already been completed and 24.26 Km  long  section  from  Udaipur-Kharwachanda  is  also  planned  for completion during the same year.

On this project, challenging work of 01 long tunnel of around 850 metre and 2 short tunnels of around 150 metre and 100 metre length  are  to  be  constructed,  for  which,  agencies  have  been finalized and construction work taken up.

The  timely  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends    on various  factors  like  quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government, forest  clearance  by  officials  of  forest  departments,  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 projects 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  affect  the  completion  of  the project.  Therefore,  presently  confirmed  timeline  for  completion  of the project cannot be given.

(e): Total 16 Nos. of metre gauge stations have been converted into broad  gauge  stations  in  Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar  section.  Out  of these,  02  D  class  stations  i.e.  Rakhiyal  and  Prantij  have  been upgraded from D class to B class. In Udaipur-Himmatnagar section, 20 railway stations (12 crossing and 08 halt) are being upgraded.

All  essential  amenities  depending  upon  category  of  Stations viz; platform shelter, Foot Over Bridge at crossing stations, boundary walls, water booth, waiting halls, sitting benches, toilets, high level platforms  have  been  planned/provided  including  desirable  facilities for divyangjan like ramps, water booths and toilets, etc.

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