Lok Sabha Question No. 1139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Jaleswar-Digha new Broad Gauge Railway Line Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1139

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## JALESWAR-DIGHA NEW BROAD GAUGE RAILWAY LINE PROJECT

## 1139.  SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Jaleswar - Digha new Broad Gauge rail line project was sanctioned in 2010-11 but the land acquisition process has not been started by South Eastern Railways;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the present status and timeline for completion of this important project?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c): Digha-Jaleswar (41 km) New Line project was sanctioned in 2010-11.  The anticipated cost of the project is ` 1584 crore.  The execution  of  the  project  could  not  be  taken  up  as  the  State Government of West Bengal has not taken up land acquisition in West Bengal portion.

Completion of any Railway project/s depend on various factors like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials of forest department, 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 site due to climatic conditions etc.   All these factors differ from project to project and affect the completion time of the project.   As such, firm  completion  time  of  the  project  can  not  be  ascertained  at  this stage.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 80 BY SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.12.2022  REGARDING STATUS OF KHURDA-BOLANGIR RAIL LINE. (a): Railway has taken up the work on Khurda Road-Bolangir New Line (289 km).  This Project is of 289 km length and divided into two parts. 1 st  part is from km 0 to km 112 and 2 nd  part is from km 112 to km 289. 1 st part  (km  0  to  km  112)  is  fully  funded  by  Railway,  while,  2 nd part (from km 112 to km 289) is on cost sharing in which, the land is to be provided free of cost by Government of Odisha along with sharing 50% cost of construction. The  anticipated  cost  of  this  project  is ` 3792  crore.    So  far,  an expenditure  of ` 2105 crore  has  been  incurred  on  the  project.    An outlay  of ` 891.12  crore  ( ` 655 crore  GBS(Gross  Budgetary  Support)  + deposit ` 236.12 crore) has been provided in the financial year 2022-23. This project involves acquisition of 4917.99 acre private land, 1275.81 acre Govt. land and forest land diversion of 1844.40 acre forest land. Out  of  which  acquisition  of  4823.98  acre  private  land,  1011.62  acre Govt.  land  and  forest  land  diversion  of  170.04  acre  land  has  been completed.  Govt. of Odisha has to expedite balance land acquisition of  94.01  acre  private  land,  264.19  acre  Govt.  land  and  forest  land diversion of 1674.37 acre forest land.   So far, 115.66 km length of the project has been commissioned.   Work has been taken up in available land. ` 371.85 crore has been spent on this project during the financial year 2021-22. Completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on  various  factors  like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances  from  various  authorities,  geological  and  topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc.   All these factors affect the completion time

of the project. (b):    At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  connect  Puranakatak  to Phulbani.

(c):  Gopalpur-Rairakhol  (270  km)  new  line  has  been  identified  by Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL), the JV (Joint Venture) Company of State Govt. of Odisha and Ministry of Railways. The  alignment  of  this  project  passes  through  Kandhmal  district. Detailed  Project  Report  of  the  project  has  been  prepared.    Further consideration of the project is possible once the results are firmed up thereon.

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