Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Railway Projects in Ladakh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 89 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN LADAKH

*89.   SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has initiated the construction of railway projects for UT of Ladakh, if so, the details and the present status thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (b) the details of the railway projects in terms of route, funds, proposed connection  at  earlier  stages,  timeline  etc.  for  connecting  the  UT  of Ladakh?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.  89  BY  SHRI  JAMYANG  TSERING  NAMGYAL  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2023 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN LADAKH.

- (a)  and  (b):  The  details  of  surveys  undertaken  in  Ladakh  area  are  as under:

## Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new line project

Survey of Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new  line project (489Km) has been completed and Detailed Project Report has been prepared.

The salient features of the project as per the Detailed Project Report are as under:-

|   1 a) | Total Length of Alignment                                       | 489 km                      |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|      2 | Gauge                                                           | Broad Gauge (1676 mm)       |
|      3 | Number of Stations(Nos.)                                        | 40                          |
|      4 | State/Union Territory through which project alignment traverses | Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh |
|      5 | Land Area Covered                                               | 2557.96 Hectare             |
|      6 | Total number of Tunnels(Nos.)                                   | 62                          |
|      7 | Total length of tunnels                                         | 270 Km                      |
|      8 | Important Bridges(Nos.)                                         | 2                           |
|      9 | Major Bridges(Nos.)                                             | 114                         |
|     10 | Minor Bridges(Nos.)                                             | 90                          |
|     11 | Road Over Bridge (Nos.)                                         | 37                          |
|     12 | Road Under Bridge(Nos.)                                         | 54                          |
|     13 | Total Length of Access Roads                                    | 156.512 Km                  |
|     14 | Traction                                                        | Electric traction           |
|     15 | Signalling System                                               | Electronic Interlocking     |
|     16 | Track Structure                                                 | Ballastless track           |
|     17 | Estimated Cost of Project                                       | Rs. 99,201.40 Cr            |

The alignment of New Line Bilaspur-Manali-Leh (489 km) line starts - off from  Beri,  passes  through  major  towns  of  Sundernagar,  Mandi,  Manali, Sissu, Darcha Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi, Kharu and terminates  at  Leh  Terminus,  connecting  important  towns  of  Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

## Srinagar-Kargil-Leh new line project

Survey  of  Srinagar-Kargil-Leh  (480  km)  new  rail  line  was  carried  out  in 2016-17.  As  per  Survey  report  the  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  was ` 55,896 crores. However, due to low traffic projections, the project could not be taken forward.

## Pathankot-Leh new line project

Survey  of  Pathankot-Leh  (664  km)  new  rail  line  was  carried  out  in 2017-18.  As  per  Survey  report  the  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  was ` 70,308 crores. However, due to low traffic projections, the project could not be taken forward.

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