Lok Sabha Question No. 568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Ongoing/Pending Railway Projects in Jalpaiguri
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 568

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## ONGOING/PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN JALPAIGURI

568.  DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of railway stations in the Jalpaiguri Parliamentary Constituency;
- (b) the  details  of  railway  projects/works  planned,  ongoing  and  pending  in  the said Constituency;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  for  development  of  these  railway stations with modern infrastructure, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to augment the rail network/connectivity and train services in the Jalpaiguri constituency; and
- (e) if so, the steps being 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. 568 BY DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  06.12.2023  REGARDING ONGOING/ PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN JALPAIGURI.

(a):  34  railway  stations  which  fall  in  the  Jalpaiguri  Parliamentary Consituency  are  Belakoba,  Rani  Nagar  Jalpaiguri,  New  Jalpaiguri, Ambari Falakata, Jalpaiguri, Kadabari, Mandalghat, Kashiabari, Mohit Nagar,  Jalpaiguri  Road,  New  Domohani,  New  Mainaguri,  Betgara, Altagram, Dhupguri, Kolaigram, Salbari, Begrakot, Oodlabari, Damdim, New Mal Jn, Chalsa, Nagrakata, Caron, Banarhat, Mal Bazar, Boradighi, Lataguri, Domohni, Mayanaguri Road, New Changrabandha, Changrabandha, Neoranandi and Bhotepatti.

(b)  to  (e):  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise  not Parliamentary Constituency wise as Railway projects may span across Parliamentary  constituencies.  Jalpaiguri  Parliamentary  Constituency falls in the State of West Bengal. As on 01.04.2023, 44 railway projects (16 New line, 04 Gauge Conversion  and 24 Doubling) of total length of 4,209  km,  costing 50,915  crore,  falling  fully/partly  in  the  state  of West  Bengal  are  in  planning/approval/construction  stage,    out    of which, 2,033 km length has been commissioned  and an expenditure of 23,298 crore has been incurred upto March, 2023. During 2014-23, 1137 Km sections (113 km of New line, 151 Km of Gauge Conversion and  873  km  of  Doubling)  have  been  commissioned  in  State  of  West Bengal at an average rate 126.33 km per year.

Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme' for development of Railway stations on Indian Railways.

This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis  with  a  long-term  approach.    Under  the  scheme,  1309 Railway Stations on Indian Railways including 6 stations namely, New Jalpaiguri Junction, Dhupguri, Haldibari, Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Road and New Mal Junction in the Jalpaiguri Parliamentary constitutency have been identified for development as Amrit Bharat Stations.

This scheme 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 and requirement at  each  sation.  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 ballastless tracks, 'Roof Plazas' as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term.

At present, New Jalpaiguri station is being catered by 146 train services.  Besides, introduction of new trains/ extension and increase in frequency of services, to enhance train connectivity, is an on-going process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  traffic justification, resource availability, etc.

Various steps taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation  of  rail  projects  include  (i)  substantial  increase  in allocation  of  funds,  (ii)  delegation  of  powers  at  field  level,  (iii)  close monitoring of progress of project at various levels (iv) regular follow up with  State  Governments  and  concerned  authorities  for  expeditious land  acquisition,  forestry  and  Wildlife  clearances  and  for  resolving other issues pertaining to projects.

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