Lok Sabha Question No. 3407 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Doubling of Ernakulam-Kumbalam Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3407 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## DOUBLING OF ERNAKULAM-KUMBALAM RAIL LINE

3407.     ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  sanctioned  the          doubling  of Turavur  -  Ambalappuzha  (45.86  KM)  stretch  of  the  coastal railway  line  in  Kerala,  for  which  the  Detailed  Project  Report has already been prepared;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  tentative  period  by which  the  doubling  work  is  likely  be  completed,  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (c) the present status of the doubling of the Ernakulam-Kumbalam and  Kumbalam-Turavur  stretch  of  the  coastal  railway  line which had been sanctioned earlier;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that due to the reluctance on the part of the Railways to handover land in its possession in front of the Cherthala Railway Station, service roads are not being included in the design for National Highway-66 widening in front of the railway station; and
- (e) if so, the details and corrective action taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3407 BY ADV. A.M. ARIFF TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.08.2023  REGARDING DOUBLING OF ERNAKULAMKUMBALAM RAIL LINE

(a) to (c): Doubling of Ernakulam to Ambalappuzha has been divided in three parts viz Ernakulam-Kumbalam (7.7 Km), Kumbalam-Turavur (15.59 Km) and TuravurAmbalappuzha (45.86 Km). Ernakulum-Kumbalam doubling  (7.7  KM)  and  Kumbalam-Turavur  doubling  (15.59  KM)  were sanctioned in 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively. Work  of TuravurAmbalappuzha  doubling  (45.86  KM)  was  included  in  Budget  2015-16 subject  to  requisite  approvals.  The  present  anticipated  cost  of  the projects has been assessed as ` 595.39 crore, ` 802.80 crore and ` 1262.14 crore  respectively.  Initially,  Government  of  Kerala  was  requested  to provide  land  free  of  cost  and  to  share  cost  of  the  projects.  However, Government  of  Kerala  has  not  agreed  for  the  same.    Considering  the importance of the project, it has been decided to take up the works with 100%  Railway  funding.  The  Detailed Estimate  of doubling projects Ernakulam  -  Kumbalam  (7.71  Km)  and  Kumbalam-Turavur  (15.59  Km) have  been  sanctioned  and  Detailed  Project  report  (DPR)  of  doubling Turavur- Ambalappuzha (45.86 Km) has been prepared.

Ernakulum-Kumbalam (7.71 KM) doubling project involve acquisition of  5.20  Ha  land.    Railway  has  deposited  of ` 262  crore  with  State Government  of  Kerala  for  land  acquisition.    Kumbalam-Thuravur  (15.59 KM)  doubling  project  involve  acquisition  of  10.33  Ha  land.  Railway  has deposited ` 248.20  crore  with  State  Government  of  Kerala  for  land acquisition.    Government  of  Kerala  has  to  expedite  land  acquisition. Physical  execution  of  work  in  these  projects  can  be  taken  up  after handing over of land by Government of Kerala.

Completion  of  Railway  project/s  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/s site, number  of    working  months  in  a  year  for  particular  project  site  due  to climatic conditions etc. and all these factors affect the completion time of the project/s.

(d)  and  (e):  National  Highway  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  has  requested railway to transfer railway land of width (varying from 6.38 m to 17.51 m) in front of Cherthala railway station. Railway has expressed its inability to transfer  this  land  due  to  limited  availability  of  railway  land  and  its requirement for operational purposes.  Further, Railway has advised NHAI to  rationalize  width  of  Railway  land  required  for  construction  of  service road.

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