Lok Sabha Question No. 856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Survey for doubling of Railway Track
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Ramalingam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 856 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## SURVEY FOR DOUBLING OF RAILWAY TRACK

856.   SHRI RAMALINGAM S.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has taken steps/given direction to complete survey report for doubling of Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai-Villupuram railway track, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the tentative date of completion of survey report for this project;
- (c) the tentative date of completion of  Peralam-Kariakal line  and its present status thereof;
- (d) whether the Railways proposes to complete the gauge conversion work between Mayiladuthurai and Tarangampadi with a provision for extending it upto Tirunallar; and
- (e) if so, the details 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.  856  BY  SHRI  RAMALINGAM  S.  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON  07.02.2024    REGARDING  SURVEY  FOR DOUBLING OF RAILWAY TRACK

(a) to (e): Preliminary survey for doubling of Villupuram - Mayiladuthurai -  Thanjavur  (193  Km)  has  been  completed  and  preparation  of  survey report has been taken up.

Karaikal -Peralam  (23  Km)  new  line  project  has  been  taken  up . Out of 4.42 Ha land, 3.92 Ha land has been acquired and balance of 0.50 Ha land is being acquired. Work is in progress in available land .

Survey of  Mayiladuthurai  to  Karaikal  new  line  via  Tharangambadi and Tirunallar  (47.32 Km) was completed in 2006-07. However, as per request of Government  of Puducherry, line  between  Peralam  and Karaikal  was  preferred  for  connecting  Mayiladuthurai  to  Karaikal  via Peralam.

Though fund allocation has increased manifold but pace of execution  of  project  is  dependent  on  expeditious  land  acquisition. Railway acquires the land through State Government. State Government assesses   the compensation   amount   and   advises to Railway. On receipt of demand from State Government, Railway deposits compensation amount with concerned District Land acquisition Authority. Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  is  held  up  due  to  delay  in  land acquisition and only  about 624 Ha land  has  been  acquired  out of  total

requirement of about 1832 Ha. Railway had initiated efforts for acquisition of land but could not succeed in acquiring  land  for  projects. Support of the Government of Tamil Nadu is needed to expedite the land acquisition.

The 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.  With  above  constraints,  every  effort  is  being  made  to execute the project(s) expeditiously.

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