Lok Sabha Question No. 3312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Expansion of New Railway Lines in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3312 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## EXPANSION OF NEW RAILWAY LINES IN TAMIL NADU

3312.      SHRI PARTHIBAN S. R.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether    the  Government  has  any  proposal  regarding  the expansion of new railway lines and introduction of new trains in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  total  funds  allocated  to  Tamil  Nadu  for  the  new  railway projects  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year, project-wise?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3312  BY  SHRI  PARTHIBAN  S.R.  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.03.2022  REGARDING EXPANSION OF NEW RAILWAY LINES IN TAMIL NADU

(a) to (c): Railway projects are sanctioned and taken up Zonal Railwaywise  and  not  State-wise  as  the  Railway's  projects  may  span  across State  boundaries.  However,  as  on  01.04.2021,  total  09  new  line projects of total length 871 Km, costing ` 7,910 crore falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu are under different stages of planning/approval/execution.  An  expenditure  of ` 575  crore  has  been incurred upto March, 2021.

Tamil Nadu is covered by Southern Railway (SR), South Central Railway  (SCR)  and  South  Western  Railway  (SWR)  zone  of  Indian Railway. The project-wise details of 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 outlay for infrastructure projects  and  safety  works  and  commensurate commissioning.  Average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure and  Safety  works,  falling  fully/  partly  in  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 1,979 crore  per  year  from ` 879 crore per  year  during  2009-14,  which  is  125% more  than average  annual

budget outlay of 2009-14.  For financial year 2019-20 budget allocation of ` 2,410 crore (174% more than average annual allocation of 2009-14), for  financial  year  2020-21 ` 2,812  crore  (220%  more  than  average annual  budget  allocation  of  2009-14)  and  for  financial  year  2021-22, budget  allocation  of ` 3,730  crore  (324%  more  than  average  annual budget allocation of 2009-14) has been provided for these works. For financial year 2022-23, highest ever budget outlay of ` 3,865 crore has been  proposed  for  these  works,  which  is  340%  more  than  average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During 2014-21, 996 km sections (404 Km of Gauge Conversion and 592 Km of Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu have been commissioned at an average rate 142.29 Km per year.

Indian Railways do not run train services on State-wise basis as railway network straddles across State boundaries. However, introduction  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  over  Indian  Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic demand, availability of resources, etc.

*****