Lok Sabha Question No. 3482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Survey of New Broad Gauge Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3482 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2023

## SURVEY OF NEW BROAD GAUGE LINE

## 3482.  SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Reconnaissance  Engineering-cum-  Traffic  Survey  for  a new  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  line  from  Erode  (Ingur)  to  Palani  via Dharapuram was ordered and budget amount allotted in Railway Budget 2005-06;
- (b) if  so, the reasons why the survey was not continued and further works not carried out;
- (c) whether  any  survey  was  done  after  10  years  when  the  project was reported to be unremunerative in 2007;
- (d) whether the Railways is likely to order for a survey of new BG line Erode-Palani  in  view  of  the  fast  development  en-route  and  high tourism  potential  in  Palani  temple,  Dharapuram,  Kangeyam  and Chennimalai;
- (e) whether there is likely to be a re-alignment in the line since many solar projects have come enroute, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3482 BY SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 22.03.2023 REGARDING SURVEY OF NEW BROAD GAUGE LINE

(a) to (d): Erode - Palani new line project was sanctioned in the Budget 2008-09.  Cost  of  project  is ` 603.23  crore.    Government  of  Tamil  Nadu was requested to provide land free of cost and share 50% balance cost of  the  project.  However,  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  shown  their inability to provide land free of cost and share 50% cost of the project. No further updating survey has been conducted for Erode  - Palani new line project since last 10 years.

Railway projects in  Tamil  Nadu  are  covered  by  Southern  Railway (SR),  South  Central  Railway  (SCR)  and  South  Western  Railway  (SWR) zone  of  Indian  Railways.  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 Tamil Nadu, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 1,979 crore  per  year  from ` 879  crore per  year during 2009 - 14 (125%   more   than  average  annual  budget  allocation

during  2009-14).  The  Annual  Budget  allocation  for  these  projects increased  to ` 2,410  crore  in  Financial  Year  2019-20  (174%  more  than average  annual  budget  allocation  during  2009-14), ` 2,812  crore  in Financial  Year  2020-21  (220%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget allocation during 2009-14), ` 3,730 crore in Financial year 2021-22 (324% more than average annual budget allocation during 2009-14) and ` 3,865 crore for Financial Year 2022-23 (340% more than average annual budget allocation  during  2009-14).  For  financial  year  2023-24,  highest  ever budget outlay of ` 6,080 crore has been proposed for these works, which is 592% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During  2014-22,  1,066  Km  sections  (18  Km  of  New  line,  404  Km Gauge conversion and 644 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu has been commissioned at an average rate of 133.25 Km per year.

(e)  and (f):  There  is  no  land  based  solar  plant  as  of  now  in  Southern Railway. So, there is no re-alignment in the line on this account.

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