Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Ajmer-Tonk New Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## AJMER-TONK NEW RAILWAY LINE

## †*251. SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)  to  Tonk  via  Sawai  Madhopur  (Chauth  ka Barwara) 165 km new railway line project was approved in the Railway Budget of 2015-16 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the progress made till date in the said project;
- (c) whether the Government of Rajasthan is unable to bear 50 per cent of the  total  cost  of  the  said  project  due  to  which  the  Memorandum  of Understanding  (MoU)  for  the  project  is  yet  to  be  signed  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Union  Government,  in  public  interest,  proposes  to complete the aforesaid new railway line project by allocating the budget from its own resources;
- (e) if so, the time by which the said project is likely to be completed; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 251 BY SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.12.2021 REGARDING AJMER-TONK NEW RAILWAY LINE

(a)  to  (f):  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)  -  Sawai  Madhopur  (ChauthKa  Barwara)  via Tonk (165 km) new line project was included in the Budget 2015-16 with the  commitment  from  Government  of  Rajasthan  to  provide  land  free  of cost and to share 50% cost of the project. Accordingly, State Government was requested for funding 50% of the project cost and to provide land free of cost. Government of Rajasthan has not agreed for providing land free of cost and share 50% cost of project and expressed their inability for cost sharing.

Since Government of Rajasthan has expressed their inability in cost sharing,  refused  cost  sharing  of  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)  -  Sawai  Madhopur (ChauthKa Barwara) via Tonk (165 km) new line project, Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU)  for  the  project  has  not  been  signed  yet  with Government of Rajasthan and therefore execution of project is held up on this account.

Presently,  28  projects  (11  new  lines,  05  gauge  conversion  and  12 doubling), costing ` 56,261 crore for 5,069 km length falling fully/partly in Rajasthan are under different stages of planning/approval/execution. Out of  which,  769  km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 9,690 Cr. has been incurred upto March 2021. These include:

-  11 New Line Projects covering a length of 1,228 km at a cost of ` 15,920 crore, out of which 107 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 2,260  crore  has  been incurred upto March 21.
-  05 Gauge Conversion Projects covering a length of 1,319 km at a cost of ` 12,690 crore, out of which 520 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 3,030  crore  has  been incurred upto March 21.
-  12 Doubling Projects covering a length of 2,522 km at a cost of ` 27,651 crore, out of which 142 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 4,400  crore  has  been incurred upto March 21.

On  the  request  of  Government  of  Rajasthan,  Bankability  study  of project was carried out by Railway. As per report Rate of Return of project is (-) 7.85% with land cost and (-) 7.08% without land cost.

Considering the huge shelf of ongoing projects and Rate of Return (-)7.85% of the project, it is not possible for Railways to take up the Ajmer to Tonk via Sawai Madhopur new line project solely with Gross Budgetary

Support (GBS).

Since  2014,  there  is  substantial  increase  in  Budget  allocation  for infrastructure projects and commensurate commissioning. Average annual  Budget  allocation  on  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works, falling  fully/partly  in  Rajasthan  during  2014-19  has  been  increased  to ` 2,951 crore per year from ` 682 crore per year during 2009-14. Thus, the average  annual  Budget  allocation  during  2014-19  is  333%  more  than average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14.    Budget  allocation  for  these projects in 2019-20 has been increased to ` 4,686 crore (587% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14) and ` 4,582 crore in financial year 2020-21 (572% more than average annual Budget outlay of 2009-14). Highest ever Budget outlay of ` 6006 crore (original Budget outlay ` 4,986

crore  and  additional  outlay ` 1,020  crore)  has  been  provided  for  these projects  for  financial  year  2021-22  which  is  781%  more  than  average annual budget outlay during 2009-14. During 2014-21, 1947 km sections (176 km New line, 637 km Gauge conversion  and  1134  km  Doubling),  falling  fully/partly  in  the  state  of Rajasthan, have been commissioned at an average rate of 278.14 km per year,  which  is  74%  more  than  average  annual  commissioning  achieved during 2009-14 (159.60 Km/year).

*****