Lok Sabha Question No. 673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Gauge Conversion from Udaipur to Ahmedabad
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi, Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 673

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## GAUGE CONVERSION FROM UDAIPUR TO AHMEDABAD

†673.  SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  completed  the  work  of  rail  gauge conversion from Udaipur in Rajasthan to Ahmedabad via Himmatnagar in Rajasthan;
- (b) if so, the details of the total number and names of railway stations between Udaipur and Ahmedabad;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  passenger/freight  and  express  trains  on  this route;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  names  of  the  stations  falling  into  A  and  B categories among these stations;
- (e)  whether the Government proposes to build more new stations on this railway route and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the reasons for the delay in the said work of gauge conversion that started in 2009 along with the details thereof;
- (g) the total funds allocated and spent on this project so far; and
- (h)  the  time  by  which  the  Government  proposes  to  start  the  train operation  on  Udaipur  to  Ahmedabad  via  Himmatnagar  railway  line after this gauge conversion work is over?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 673 BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI AND SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.07.2022  REGARDING  GAUGE  CONVERSION  FROM  UDAIPUR  TO AHMEDABAD

- (a) and (g): Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur gauge conversion project including ModasaShamlaji Road new line (318 km) has been taken up. Gauge conversion of Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-DungarpurJay  Samand (234 km) and  Kharwachanda-Udaipur (24 km) sections has been completed and work has been taken up in balance section.

So far,  total  fund  allocated  and  spent  on  Ahmedabad-HimmatnagarUdaipur  gauge  conversion  project  including  Modasa-Shamlaji  Road new line (318 km) is ` 3335.33 and ` 2136.44 crore respectively.

- (b)  and  (d):  There  are  total  36  stations  between  Udaipur  and Ahmedabad section, namely Asarva, Saijpur (Halt), Sadargram (Halt), Naroda,  Medra  (Halt),  Dabhoda,  Nandol  Dehgam,  Jaliyamath  (Halt), Ralciyal, Kherola, Talod, Khari-Amarpur,  Prantij,  Sonasan,  Hapa Road, Himmatnagar, Umra, Kharwachanda, Zawar, Padla, Jaisamand Road,  Surkhand  ka  khera,  Semari,  Kundalgarh,  Rikhab  dev  road, Kotana,  Dungarpur,  Shalashah  thana,  Shri  Bhavnath,  Bechhiwara, Jagabor, Lusadiya, Shamlaji Road, Sunak, Raigadh Road and Viravada.

(c): To cater to the needs of passengers of Ahmedabad-HimmatnagarDungarpur section, 01 pair of Passenger Special service viz. 09543/44 Asarva-Dungarpur DMU special is being operated since 17.01.2022.

However, no direct Passenger service or Mail/Express train service is being operated between Ahmedabad and Udaipur via AsarvaHimmatnagar-Dungarpur section, at present.

In  last  three  months  i.e.  April,  May  and  June  2022,  total  09  freight trains have run on Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Dungarpur section.

(e): Work has been taken up as per approved plan. There is no such proposal to build more stations on Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur section presently.

(f) To avoid sharp curves and speed restriction in the existing meter gaure  section  between  Umra  and  Jawar  stations,  the  alignment  of this  section  was  detoured  for  12.5  km.  For  this  detour  alignment, 35.78 hectare forest land and construction of 820 metre long tunnel was required. Land acquisition was completed in January, 2018.

However,  timely  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on various  factors  like  quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing  utilities,  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 project site due to climatic conditions, priority of projects,  etc.  and  all  these  factors  affect  the  completion  of  the project.

(h): Introduction of trains on a new section is subject to mandatory sanction of Commissioner of Railway Safety. Besides, introduction of new train services is an ongoing process on Indian Railways.

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