Lok Sabha Question No. 4827 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Rail Connectivity to Rajasthan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4827 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO RAJASTHAN

†4827. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of those districts and tehsil headquarters in Rajasthan where there is no rail facility;
- (b) whether there is any proposal to formulate any action plan to connect all the district headquarters of the State of Rajasthan with superfast train service;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any action plan has been formulated by the Government  to  connect  Jalor  city  and  Sirohi  district  headquarters with the superfast train service and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(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. 4827 BY SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO RAJASTHAN

(a):  Railway  projects  are  not  sanctioned  State-wise,/  district-wise/ tehsil-wise,  but  sanctioned  Zone-wise  as  Indian  Railways'    network spans across various  State boundaries.

Further, Railway projects are taken up on the basis of remunerateveness, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes,  augmentation  of  congested/saturated  lines,  socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

As  on  01.04.2020,  5998  Route  Kilometre  length  of  Railway network is available in the State of Rajasthan.

Further, as on 01.04.2020, 11  new line projects of total length 1228 Km falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan have been taken up  to  improve  connectivity,  out  of  which  69  Km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 1,930 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020.  District and  Tenshil Headquarters falling enroute will be connected on completion of these projects.

Rajasthan  is  covered  by  Northern  Railway,  Western  Railway, North  Western  Railway,  West  Central  Railway  and  North  Central Railway Zones of Indian Railways. The details of allotment of funds and  expenditure  project-wise  and  Zonal  Railway  wise  are  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), Pink Book (year)>Railway wise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme.

Average annual Budget allocation on infrastructure projects and safety  works,  falling  fully/partly  in  Rajasthan  during    2014-19  has increased to ` 2,951 crore per year from ` 682 crore per year during 2009-14. Thus, the average annual Budget allocation during 2014-19 is  333%  more  than  average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14.  Budget allocation for these  projects in 2019-20 has been increased to ` 4,686 crore which is 587% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14, Budget outlay of ` 4,986 crore has been proposed for these projects  for  Financial  Year  2021-22,  which  is  631%  more  than average annual Budget outlay of 2009-14.

Execution of two cost sharing projects namely RatlamDungarpur via Banswara New Line (Length-189 Km., anticipated Cost-` 4,262  crore)  and  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)-Tonk-Sawai  Madhopur(Chauth Ka  Barwara)  New  Line  (Length-165  Km,  anticipated  Cost  -` 1,980 crore) are held up  as Government of  Rajasthan  has  not  fulfilled their  earlier commitment of providing land  free of cost and  sharing 50%  construction   cost  of these  projects.

(b)  &  (c):  Indian  Railways  do  not  operate  train  services  on  Districtwise or State-wise basis as Railway network straddles across State boundaries. However, train connectivity is generally available. Besides,  introduction  of  new  train  is  an  ongoing  process  in  Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic demand, availability of resources etc.

(d):  Survey for construction of new line between Jalore  to Udaipur via Sirohi Road (267Km) was completed in the year 2017-18.  As per the survey report, cost of the project was assessed as ` 6,626 crore with  rate  of  return  of  (-)  6.20%.  The  project  could  not  be  taken forward being financially unviable.

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