Lok Sabha Question No. 2506 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Broad Gauge Railway Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2506 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2022

## BROAD GAUGE RAILWAY LINES

2506. SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  list  of  new  Broad-Gauge  (BG)  railway  lines  which  are  under construction or have been constructed in the country during the last three years;
- (b) whether new BG railway lines have been constructed in Gujarat during the last ten years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways has received any proposal regarding survey or construction of new BG railway lines in Gujarat during the last ten years; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the status of these proposals with its cost of construction?

## 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 UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2506  BY  SHRI  PATEL  HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 16.03.2022 REGARDING BROAD GAUGE RAILWAY LINES. (a): As  on  01.04.2021,  187  New  line  projects  of  21,037  Km  length, costing approx. ` 4.06 lakh crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which commissioning of 2,621 Km length has been achieved and expenditure of approx. ` 1.06 lakh crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. The  details    of  all  ongoing  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> Finance Works, about Indian Railways> Railway Board Directorates> (Budget)> Rail Budget/Pink Book (year)> Railway-wise Machinery and Rolling Stock Programme (RSP).

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate commissioning of Projects. The Average Annual Budget allocation in the Indian Railways for New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling  works  in  Indian  Railways  during  2014-19  has  increased  to ` 26,026  crore  per  year  from ` 11,527  crore  per  year  during  2009-14, which  is  126%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay  of  2009-14. The  Annual  budget  allocation  for  these  Projects  for  Financial  Year 2019-20  was ` 39,836  crore  (246%  more  than  average  annual  budget allocation during 2009-14) and ` 43,626 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (278% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation during 200914). For Financial year 2021-22, highest-ever  budget outlay of ` 52,398 ..P/2

crore has been provided for  these  works,  which  is  355%  more  than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During the last three years i.e. 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and upto 9 th March,2022, total  10,379 km section(s) (1,306 km New line, 1,905 km Gauge  Conversion  and  7,168  km  Doubling)  has  been  commissioned across Indian Railways.

(b):  Yes, Sir. The Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise and  not  State  wise  as  the  Indian  Railways'  network  spans  across various  State  boundaries.  Gujarat  State  is  very  well  connected  with Railway Network. As on 01.04.2021, 04 New Line projects of a total length of 479 km, costing ` 5006 crore falling fully/partly in Gujarat are under different stages of planning/ approval/execution, out of which 79 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 1,793 Crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.

Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat, during 2014-19 has  increased  to ` 3,327  crore  per  year,  from ` 589  crore  per  year (during  2009-14),  which  is  465%  more  than  average  annual  budget allocation  of  2009-14  ( ` 589  crore  per  year).  These  allocations  have been increased to ` 4,803 crore in Financial Year 2019-20 (716% more than  the  Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14)  and ` 4,071 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (591% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14). For Financial Year 2021-22, highest ever ..P/3

budget  outlay  of ` 4,924  crore  has  been  provided  for  these  projects, which is 736% more than the Average Annual Budget outlay of 2009-14 ( ` 589 crore per year).

During  2009-14,  660  Km  sections  (538  km  of  Gauge  conversion  and 122 km of Doubling projects) falling fully / partly in the State of Gujarat have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  132  km  per  year. Whereas, During  2014-21, 928 Km sections (142 km New line, 302 km Gauge  conversion  and  484  km  Doubling)  falling  fully  /  partly  in  the State of Gujarat  have been commissioned at an average rate 132.57 km per year.

(c)  and  (d):    Yes,  Sir.  Proposals/suggestions/representations,  both formal  and  informal  regarding  Railway  projects/surveys  are  received from  State  Governments,  Ministries  of  Central  Government,  elected representatives,  organizations/rail  users  etc.  by  Railways  at  various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt  of  such  proposals/suggestions  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained.

During the last 10 years i.e. from 2011-12 onwards, 63 nos. of survey works for 6,725 Km New Broad Gauge line falling fully/partly in Gujarat have  been  sanctioned.  During  the  same  period,  33  nos.  of  survey works for 3,089 Km New Lines falling fully/partly in Gujarat have been completed.

New line projects are taken up on the basis of  remunerativeness,  last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon throw forward of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

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