Lok Sabha Question No. 1748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Rail Connectivity to Historical/Tourist Places in Odisha
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1748 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO HISTORICAL/TOURIST PLACES IN ODISHA

1748. SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the budgetary allocation for Railway projects in Odisha for the current year (2021-22);
- (b) the details of new projects that are likely to be taken up;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to introduce a passenger train to Nilgiri (Dahaimara-Gopinathpur) where a station for goods train operates from British period, which has been a long pending demand of the public;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether the Government is considering to connect all the places of pilgirimage, historical and tourist importance through Railways; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the likely time by when one of the oldest places of pilgrimage in Odisha will get rail connectivity?

## 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.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1748 BY SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  08.12.2021  REGARDING  RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO HISTORICAL/TOURIST PLACES IN ODISHA. (a)  and  (b):    Budget  allocation  to  Railway  projects  are  provided  Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise, as, Indian Railways' projects may span across State boundaries. As on 01.04.2021,  37 Railway Projects (11 new line  projects,  01  Gauge  conversion  and  25  Doubling)  costing ₹ 55,219 crore for 4,643 km length, falling fully/partly in the State of Odisha are at different  stages  of  planning/approval/execution,  out  of  which,  928  km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 16,903 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. Odisha  is  covered  by  East  Coast  Railway,  South  Eastern  Railway  and South  East  Central  Railway.  Zonal  Railway  wise  details  of  projects including  cost  and  expenditure  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)  >Pink  Book(Year)  >Railway  wise  works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme. Railway has substantially increased budget allocations for Infrastructure projects  &  safety  works,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Odisha.  Average annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works, falling fully/partly in State of Odisha, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ₹ 4,126 crore per year from ₹ 838 crore per year (during 2009-14). Thus, the average budget allocation during 2014-19 is 392% more as compared to  average allocation during 2009-14 ( ₹ 838 Cr/Year).  These allocations have been enhanced to ₹ 4,568 crore in 2019-20 and ₹ 5,296 crore in 202021 which are 445% and 532% more than the average allocation of 2009-

14  ( ₹ 838  Cr/Year)  respectively.  Total  allocation  of  Budget  has  further been  enhanced  to ₹ 5,921  crore  in  2021-22,  which  is  the  highest  ever budget  allocation  for  the  State  of  Odisha  and  607%  more  than  the average annual budget allocation of 2009-14 ( ₹ 838 Cr/Year).

There is substantial increase in rate of commissioning since 2014. During 2009-14, 267 km (56 km of New line, 83 km of Gauge conversion and 128 km of Doubling projects), falling fully/partly in the State of Odisha, have been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  53.40  km  per  year.    During 2014-21, 1031 km (251 km of New line and 780 km of Doubling projects), falling fully/partly in the state of Odisha,  have been commissioned at an average rate of 147.29 km per year,  which is 176% more than average annual commissioning achieved during 2009-14.

(c) and (d): At present, there is no proposal to operate passenger trains to Nilgiri  (Dahaimara-Gopinathpur)  as  Balasore-Nilgiri  section  is  not  fit  for passenger traffic and only fit for freight traffic.

(e) and (f): Many places of pilgrimage, historical and tourist importance in the state of Odisha like Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Baripada, Sambalpur,  Rourkela,  Behrampur,  Rayagada  and  Jeypore  are  already connected via Railway network.

Further, 11 new line projects are in different stages of planning/approval/execution  falling  party/fully  in  the  State  of  Odisha which will also provide connectivity to pilgrimage, historical and tourist places en-route.

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