Lok Sabha Question No. 5435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Doubling of Ambalappuzha-Ernakulam Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5435 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## DOUBLING OF AMBALAPPUZHA- ERNAKULAM RAIL LINE

5435.   ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to expedite the doubling of Ambalappuzha-Ernakulam railway line in Kerala, which has been included in the pink book, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  tentative  time  by  which  the  tender  for  the  above  doubling  work  is likely to be floated;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  lay  the  second  line  in  the Ambalappuzha-Ernakulam stretch so as to run the trains at a speed of 160 kms per hour, if so, the modalities thereof;
- (d) whether the Government intends to construct a third railway line in the Ernakulam-Shornur  stretch  in  Kerala,  if  so,  the  estimated  time  of completion of the same; and
- (e) the details of amount sanctioned for the doubling of various stretches of railway lines in the State of Kerala from the FY 2019-20 till 2021-22?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (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. 5435 BY ADV. A.M. ARIFF TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023  REGARDING  DOUBLING  OF  AMBALAPPUZHA  -  ERNAKULAM  RAIL LINE

(a) to (c): Doubling  of  Ernakulam  to  Ambalappuzha  has  been  divided  in  three parts  viz  Ernakulam-Kumbalam  (7.7  Km),  Kumbalam-Turavur  (15.59  Km)  and Turavur- Ambalappuzha (45.86 Km). All three projects were included in Budget 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2015-16 respectively. The present anticipated cost of the projects  has  been  assessed  as ` 595  crore, ` 803  crore  and ` 1262  crore respectively. Initially, Government of Kerala was requested to provide land free of cost and to share cost of the projects. However, Government of Kerala has not agreed  for  the  same.    Considering  the  importance  of  the  project,  it  has  been decided to take up the work with 100% Railway funding. The detailed Estimate of doubling projects Ernakulam - Kumbalam (7.71 Km) and Kumbalam-Thuravur (15.59 Km) has been sanctioned and Detailed Project Report (DPR) of doubling of Turavur-Ambalappuzha (45.86 Km) has been prepared.

Ernakulam  -  Kumbalam  (7.71  Km)  and  Kumbalam-Thuravur  (15.59  Km) doubling  projects  involve  acquisition  of  4.20  ha  and  10.30  ha  respectively  in Kerala.  Land acquisition for the project has been taken up. Tenders for projects are taken up depending upon the progress of the land acquisition and handing over of land to Railways by the State Government.

All  doubling  projects  are  almost  parallel  to  existing  alignment  passing through cities and speed depends on curvature of track which is affected by land availability.

(d): Ernakulam - Shoranur 3rd line (107 Km) doubling project has been included in Budget in 2018-19.  Final Location Survey (FLS) has been Sanctioned.  Further decision on the project is possible once survey is completed and result thereon, including traffic requirement, are firmed up.

- (e): Railway projects are sanctioned and taken up Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise as the Railway's projects may span across State boundaries.  Railway infrastructure  projects  in  Kerala  are  covered  under  Southern  Railway  zone  of Indian Railway.

Zone-wise details of all Railway projects including cost, expenditure and outlay  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) >Rail Budget/Pink Book (Year)> Railway wise Works Machinery and Rolling Stock Programme.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in budget allotment and commensurate commissioning of infrastructure projects. Average Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 950 crore per year from ` 372 crore per year during 2009 - 14 (155% more than average annual budget allocation  during  2009-14).  The  Annual  Budget  allocation  for  these  projects increased  to ` 667  crore  for  Financial  Year  2019-20  (79%  more  than  average annual budget allocation during 2009-14), ` 688 crore for Financial Year 2020-21 (85% more   than   the   Average   Annual   Budget  allocation  during  2009 - 14), ` 1,866 crore for Financial year 2021-22 (402% more than average annual budget allocation  during  2009-14)  and ` 1,085  crore  for  Financial  Year  2022-23  (192% more than average annual budget allocation during 2009-14). For financial year 2023-24, highest ever budget outlay of ` 2,033 crore has been allocated for these works, which is 446% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

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