Lok Sabha Question No. 2958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Railway Projects in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed, Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL

2958. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  funds  spend  for  the  development  of  railway projects in West Bengal since 2014, Division-wise;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  major  activities  that  were  undertaken  in  the railway stations of Uluberia , Bagnan, Bauria, Santragachi and Howrah railway stations under the Kharagpur Division for passenger amenities;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  new  train  services  introduced/proposed  to  be introduced  in  the  country  particularly  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal during the last three years;
- (d)  whether  Malda  Town  railway  station  has  been  proposed  for stoppage of Rajdhani Express;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether  any  new  train  services  have  started  from  Malda  Town during the last three years and if so, the details thereof?

## 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. 2958 BY SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED AND SHRI  KHAGEN  MURMU  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 03.08.2022 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL (a) : Railway projects are sanctioned and executed Zonal Railway wise and  not  State  wise  as  Railway  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2022, 50 Railway projects (16 new lines, 04 gauge conversions and 30 doublings), costing ₹ 51,645 crore, covering  total  length  of  4,365  Km,  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of West Bengal are in different stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which 2,065 Km length have been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 20,974 crore has been incurred upto March'22. Railway Infrastructure Projects in the state of West Bengal is covered by Eastern Railway (ER), South Eastern Railway (SER) and Northeast Frontier  Railway  (NFR)  Zones  of  Indian  Railways.    The  project-wise details including  cost, expenditure and outlay are  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)>Railways-wise  Works,  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock  Programme (RSP). Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in Budget allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects. Average Annual Budget allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works,  falling  fully/ partly  in  State  of  West  Bengal,  during  2014-19  has  been  enhanced to ₹ 4,612  crore  per  year  from ₹ 4,380  crore  per  year  during  2009-14, which is 5% more than Average Annual Budget allocation during 200914. These allocations have been increased to ₹ 5,033 crore in Financial Year 2019-20 (15% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14), 5,246 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (20% more than the

₹

Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14)  and ₹ 6,988  crore  in Financial  Year  2021-22  (60%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget Outlay  of  2009-14).  For  Financial  Year  2022-23,  highest  ever  Budget outlay of ₹ 10,262 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 134% more than the Average Annual Budget Outlay of 2009-14 ( ₹ 4,380 crore per year).

During  2014-22,  998  km  sections  (88  km  new  line,  151  km  Gauge conversion and 759 km doubling) falling fully/partly in the state of West Bengal  have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  124.75  km  per year.

(b)  :  Work  related  to  provision  of  stainless  steel  benches  and  water booths  and  improvement  to  station  façade  has  been  undertaken  at Uluberi  Railway  station.  The  work  of  renovation  of  passenger  toilets and  provision  of  foot  over  bridge  have  been  undertaken  at  Bagnan railway  station.  At  Bauria  railway  station,  renovation  of  toilet  for Divyangjan and station façade improvement have been undertaken.

The  following  major  works  have  been  undertaken  at  Santragachi railway station: -

- (i) Provision of 12 meter wide new Foot Over Bridge
- (ii) Provision of new toilets, platform shelter
- (iii) Improvement to platform surfaces
- (iv) Provision of Taxi Booth, Lifts
- (v) Provision of seating arrangement for passengers
- (vi) Improvement to station façade and circulating area
- (vii) Provision of new station building

The following major works have been undertaken at Howrah Station: -

- (i) Raising and repairs to Platform No.2-3 & Platform No.4-5.
- (ii) Improvement  of  Pay  and  Use  Toilets  of  Howrah  Station  (Old Complex)
- (iii) Improvement  to  Waiting  Hall  of  Howrah  Station  (Old  &  New Complex)
- (iv) Renovation of Visitor/Atithi Lounge
- (v) Repairs to damaged PF surfaces at Howrah Station (Old & New Complex) for Platform No.1-2
- (vi) Expansion & Renovation of 2 nd  class waiting hall
- (vii) Renovation of Gents toilet of upper-class waiting hall, renovation of existing Gents & Ladies toilets of 2 nd  class waiting hall

(c) : Indian Railways do not run train services, on State-wise basis as railway network straddles across State Boundaries. However, number of  train  services  introduced  during  the  period  1 st   April,  2019  to  31 st April, 2022 is indicated as under:

| Year    |   Trains introduced |
|---------|---------------------|
| 2019-20 |                 109 |
| 2020-21 |                  50 |
| 2021-22 |                  60 |

Besides,  introduction  of  trains  on  Indian  Railways  is  an  ongoing process  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  resource  availability  and commercial justification, competing demand, etc.

(d)  to  (f)  :  At  present,  stoppage of 20501/20502 Agartala-Anand Vihar Terminal Rajdhani Express is not available at Malda Town. However, provision of stoppage and diversion of trains is an ongoing process on Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational  feasibility  and  commercial justification.

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