Lok Sabha Question No. 4590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Development of Railways in Kozhikode and Malabar Region
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4590 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2022

## DEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAYS IN KOZHIKODE AND MALABAR REGION

4590.  SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  noted  that  budgets  have  shown repeated  neglect  towards  people  of  Kozhikode  and  Malabar region since 2014 and if so, the details regarding the measures taken for the development of railways in Kozhikode and Malabar region;
- (b) whether capital expenditure granted to Railways is applicable to railway owned companies also and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has provided any grants for capital and revenue expenditure of K Rail Development Corporation Limited and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  plans  to  run  any  new  trains  through Kozhikode  railway  station  as  per  the  budget  and  if  so,  the details regarding the newly sanctioned trains?

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4590  BY  SHRI  M.K.  RAGHAVAN  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 30.03.2022 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAYS IN KOZHIKODE AND MALABAR REGION

(a):    New  line  projects  are  not  sanctioned  region-wise  or  State-wise. Railway  projects  are  taken  up  Zonal  Railway-wise  on  the  basis  of remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing  links  and  alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State  Governments,  Central  Ministries,  Members  of  Parliament,  other public  representatives,  Railway's  own  operational requirement, socioeconomic considerations etc. depending upon throw forward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

As on 01.04.2021, 8 Projects (2 New Line and 6 Doubling) of total length  439  Km,  costing ` 9,489  crore  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of Kerala are under different stage of planning/approval/execution. Out of which  8  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 1,084 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.

Infrastructure  projects  in  Kerala  are  covered  under  Southern Railway  (SR)  and  zone  of  Indian  Railways.  Zone-wise  details  of  all ongoing  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.

Funding for the projects are made on the basis of progress of land acquisition, forestry clearance obtained for  the  project, co - operation

from the State government in execution of project, amount deposited by the State Government in cost sharing projects, last mile connectivity, missing links, alternative routes, strategic importance of line, demand received from Zonal Railways etc.

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 Kerala, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 950 crore  per  year  from ` 372 crore  per  year during    2009-14,    which    is    155%  more  than  average  annual  budget outlay of 2009-14.  For financial year 2019-20 budget allocation of ` 667 crore  (79%  more  than  average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14)  and  for financial  year  2020-21  Budget  outlay  of ` 688  crore  (85%  more  than average  annual  budget  allocation  of  2009-14)  has  been  provided  for these works. For financial year 2021-22, highest ever budget outlay of ` 1,866 crore has been provided for these works, which is 402% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During 2014-21, 107 km sections (29 km of Gauge conversion and 78  km  of  Doubling  projects)  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Kerala have been commissioned at an average rate 15.29 km per year, which is  44%  more  than  average  commissioning  during  2009-14  (10.60 km/year).

(b): The Capital outlay in Indian Railways' Budget is meant for expenditure  on  Works,  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock  Programme  of  the Railways. It also includes investment in Railway' Public Sector Undertakings,    Joint    Venture     and     Special     Purpose     Vehicles

(Government and non-Government) under plan head 61- Investment in PSU/JV/SPVs. In Revised Estimates 2020-21 and 2021-22 the following outlay provision has been made for this purpose under plan head 61:-

( ` in crore)

|                                                          |   Revised Estimates 2020-21 |   Revised Estimates 2021-22 |
|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Equity in Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd                 |                         149 |                       81.6  |
| Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation Indian Ltd        |                       11200 |                    16853.2  |
| Investment in various state JV/Authorities/Companies etc |                         170 |                      800    |
| Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd                       |                         700 |                      900    |
| National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd                 |                        3400 |                    13605    |
| Railway Energy Management Company Ltd                    |                           1 |                        4.63 |
| Total                                                    |                       15620 |                    32244.1  |

(c): Ministry of Railways has released ` 49 crore towards initial share capital  of  KRDCL  [a  joint  venture  company  of  Government  of  Kerala (51%) and Ministry of Railways (49%)].

(d): No,  Sir.  However,  introduction  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process over Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic demand, availability of resources, etc.

*****