Lok Sabha Question No. 3516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Survey for doubling of Thanjavur-Villupuram Railway Section
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Ramalingam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3516 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2023

## SURVEY FOR DOUBLING OF THANJAVUR-VILLUPURAM RAILWAY SECTION

## 3516.   SHRI RAMALINGAM S.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Railways  has  any  plans  to  utilise  the  40  acres  of  vacant land available at Tirunageswaram in Trichy Division under Southern Railway Jurisdiction;
- (b) if  so,  whether  final  location  survey  for  doubling  of  ThanjavurMayiladuthurai-Villupuram  railway  section  has  been  completed,  if so, the time by which the project is likely to be commenced;
- (c) whether Railways has planned to convert Papanasam Station as a block station in the doubling works planning;
- (d) whether Sirkazhi, Aduthurai in Mayiladuthurai constituency is likely to be included in the next phase of Amrit Bharat scheme;
- (e) if so, the current status of  gauge  conversion  work  between Mayiladuthurai  and  Tarangampadi  with  a  provision  for  extending upto Tirunallar;
- (f) the details of the improvement and developments to be undertaken at Kumbakonam Station Redevelopment project;
- (g) whether  there is any proposal for establishing  a  museum  at Kumbakonam during station redevelopment works, if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) whether automatic water vending machine is likely to be restored at Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai, if so, the details in this regard?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.3516  BY  SHRI  RAMALINGAM  S.  TO  BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  22.03.2023  REGARDING  SURVEY  FOR DOUBLING OF THANJAVUR-VILLUPURAM RAILWAY SECTION.

(a): The vacant land at Tirunageswaram station in Trichy Division under Southern  Railway  Jurisdiction  is  required  for  future  developmental works of Railways.

(b)  &  (c):  Preliminary  Engineering  cum  Traffic  survey  for  doubling  of Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur line (193 Km) has been sanctioned.  Survey  is  in  progress.    Further  decision  on  the  project would be possible after completion of survey and examination of survey report including its financial viability.  As per planning of doubling work of Thanjavur - Mayiladuthurai - Villupuram Railway section, Papanasam station is planned as halt station.

(d):  1275  stations  have  been  selected  under  'Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme' for  development  of  station,  based  on  the  proposals  received from  Zonal  Railways,  stations  located  in  major  cities  and  towns. Further, modernization/upgradation of Railway stations is a continuous and  on-going  process  subject  to  volume  of  traffic,  inter-se  priority  of works and availability of funds.

(e): Survey for Mayiladuthurai to Karaikal railway line via Tharangambadi  (47.32  Km)  was  completed  in  2011.  However,  the project  could  not  be  taken  forward  in  view  of  Peralam-Kariakal  line being prioritized by Government of Puducherry.

(f):  Kumbakonam Railway Station has been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. This scheme envisages development  of  stations  on  a  continous  basis  with  a long  term approach.

It involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases  to  improve  the  amenities  at  the  stations  like  improvement  of station  access,  circulating  areas,  waiting  halls,  toilets,  lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product', better passenger information systems, Executive Lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc.  keeping in view the necessity at each such station. The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballast less tracks, 'Roof Plazas' as per necessity,  phasing  and  feasibility  and  creation  of  city  centres  at  the station in the long term. (g): Redevelopment of Kumbakonam Railway Station has been taken up under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  scheme  and  is  under  planning  process. During the planning process various options of local context including museum are considered as per feasibility. (h):  The  license  of  Water  Vending  Machines  (WVMs)  at  Kumbakonam and  Mayiladuthurai  railway  stations  was  terminated  on  account  of breach  of  terms  and  conditions  of  the  contract  agreement  by  the service  provider.  However,  Southern  Railway  has  been  advised  to expedite the installation of WVMs at these stations.

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