Lok Sabha Question No. 5392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Sabari Rail Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## SABARI RAIL PROJECT

## 5392.    SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a budget allocation for Sabari Rail Project, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is a timeline for the completion of various phases of the Sabari Rail Project;
- (c) if  so,whether  the  railway  board  has  sanctioned  revised  estimates  of this project;
- (d) whether the project implementation will be done by the Indian Railways or by the K-Rail, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the project implementation by the K-Rail is objected to by the engineering department of Indian Railways, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  inordinate  delay  of  the  railway board in sanctioning the revised estimates, if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) whether  the  Government  will  speed  up  the  entire  process  for  timebound and effective implementation of the project, if so, the details in this regard?

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5392 BY SHRI HIBI EDEN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023 REGARDING SABARI RAIL PROJECT

(a) to (g): Railway infrastructure projects in Kerala are covered by Southern Railway. 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.

The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like  quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials  of  forest  department,  deposition  of  cost  share  by  cost  sharing authority in cost sharing project(s), shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions  of  area,  law  and  order  situation  in  the  area  of  project(s)  site, number of working months in a year for particular project.

Various steps being taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation  of  rail  projects  include  (i) setting up  of  Gati  Shakit Directorate  in  Ministry  of  Railways  and  Gati  Shakti  Units  in  divisions  (ii) prioritisation of projects  (iii) substantial increase in allocation of funds on priority projects (iv) delegation of powers at field level (v) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels and (vi) regular follow up with State Governments  and  concerned  authorities  for  expeditious  land  acquisition, forestry and Wildlife clearances and for resolving other issues pertaining to projects.

Angamali-Sabarimala new line (116 Km) was sanctioned in 1997-98. Work on Angamali-Kaladi (7 Km) and long lead works on KaladiPerumbavoor (10 Km) have been taken up. However, further works on this project could not be taken forward due to protests by local people against land  acquisition  and  fixing  of  alignment  of  the  line,  court  cases  filed against the project and inadequate support from the State Government of Kerala.

After long persuasion, Government  of Kerala vide letter dated 07.01.2021 has conveyed their decision to share 50% of the total project cost ( ` 2815 crore) of Angamali - Sabarimala Railway project through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), subject to the condition that operation  and  maintenance  of  the  track  shall  be  done  by  Ministry  of Railways while the stations along the route will be developed by a Special Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  (through  public  private  partnership  route)  and  the net revenue realized by the SPV will be shared on a 50:50 basis between State  Government  and  Ministry  of  Railways,  after  offsetting  the  cost  of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) as agreed to by Railways. M/s Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has been advised on 20.07.2021 to complete Final Location Survey and to update the project cost.

Accordingly, M/s KRDCL (K-Rail) completed the Final Location Survey (FLS)  and  has  prepared  the  Detailed  Estimate  (DE)  of  the  full  project. Further  decision  on  the  project  including  its  implementation  is  possible once Detailed Estimate is examined and result thereon, are firmed up.

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