Lok Sabha Question No. 393 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: New Railway Line to Kutch in Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 393 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2022

## NEW RAILWAY LINE TO KUTCH IN GUJARAT

† *393.  SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is likely to lay any new railway line in Kutch and other Districts of Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  start  train  service  from Delhi to Kutch in view of the demand being made in this regard since the last five years; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  393  BY  SHRI  VINOD  L.  CHAVDA  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 30.03.2022 REGARDING NEW RAILWAY LINE TO KUTCH IN GUJARAT

(a)  and  (b):  Railway  projects  are  not  sanctioned  State-wise/  districtwise  as  Indian  Railways'  projects  may  span  across  State/  district boundaries.

As on 01.04.2021, 36 projects (04 new lines, 21 gauge conversion and 11  doubling),  of  total  length  4002  km  costing ` 33,139  crore  falling fully/partly in Gujarat state are under different stages of planning/approval/execution.  Out  of  which,  908  km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 11,093 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. These include:

-  04 New Line Projects covering a length of 479  km at a cost of ` 5006 crore, out of which 79 km  length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 1793  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2021.
-  21 Gauge Conversion Projects covering a length of 1,911 km at  a  cost  of ` 12,970 crore,  out  of  which  557  km  length  has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 5,583 crore has been incurred upto March 2021.
-  11 Doubling Projects covering a length of 1,612 km at a cost of ` 15,163  crore,  out  of  which  272  km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 3,717 crore has been incurred upto March 2021.

These  include  02  projects  namely  Gauge  Conversion  of  Bhuj-Naliya with extension from Naliya to Vayor (126 km) and PalanpurSamakhayali doubling (247 km) of total length 373 km costing ` 2860 crore falling fully/partly in Kutch district of Gujarat State, out of which 113 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 1875 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.

Gujarat is covered under Western Railway and North Western Railway Zones of Indian Railways. The Zone-wise details of Railway projects including allotment of funds and expenditure, project-wise 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), Pink  Book  (year)>Railway  wise  Works  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock Programme.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in budget outlay for infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works.  Average  annual  Budget allocation  for  Infrastructure  and  safety  works,  falling  fully/partly    in State  of  Gujarat,  during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 3,327 crore per  year  from ` 589  crore  per  year  during  2009-14,  which  is  465% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. For financial year 2019-20  budget  allocation  of  4,803  crore  (716%  more  than  average annual allocation of 2009-14), and for financial year 2020-21 Budget outlay  of ` 4,071  crore  (591%  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 ` 4,924  crore  (original budget outlay of ` 4484 crore and additional outlay of ` 440 crore) have

been  provided  for  these  works,  which  is  736%  more  than  average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During  2014-21,  928  km  sections  (142  km  New  line,  302  km  Gauge conversion and 484 km doubling) falling fully/partly in Gujarat state, have been commissioned, at an average rate of 132.57 km per year.

(c)  and  (d):  Owing  to  resource  and  operational  constraints  including line capacity constraints on sections enroute and terminal constraints in  Delhi  area,  introduction  of  a  train  between  Bhuj/Gandhidham  and Delhi is not feasible at present.

However, Bhuj/Gandhidham - Delhi sector is being adequately served by 03 pairs of trains viz. 14311/12 Bareily-Bhuj Ala Hazrat Express (Triweekly), 14321/22 Bareily-Bhuj Express (4 days a week) and 12474/73 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Gandhidham Sarvodaya Express (Weekly).

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