Lok Sabha Question No. 1550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Kanhangad-Kaniyur Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1550 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## KANHANGAD-KANIYUR RAILWAY LINE

## 1550   SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Kanhangad-Kaniyur railway line has been in demand by the people of Kasaragod for many years;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  take  further  action  on  the  said  project which is not going ahead after the preliminary survey;
- (c) whether  the  survey  report  is  still  under  consideration  by  the Government, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  there  are  other  hurdles  to  implementing  technically, financially, and ecologically feasible Project;
- (e) whether the Government received consent from State Government  for  the  Karnataka  and  Kerala  State  share  for  this Project; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along with  the  steps  taken/to  be  taken  to  make  this  KanhangadKaniyur rail line a reality?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1550 BY SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING KANHANGAD-KANIYUR RAILWAY LINE

(a)  to  (f):  Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations,  both  formal and  informal  for  Railway  projects/  Works  across  the  country  are received on the basis of demands raised by public, State Governments, Members  of  Parliament,  Ministries  of  Central  Government,  elected representatives,  Railways'  own  requirements,  organizations/rail  users etc., at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt of such Proposals/ requests/suggestions/representations is  a  continuous  and  dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time.

A  Feasibility  Study  for  a  new  Railway  line  between  Kanhangad  and Kaniyuru  via  Panathur,  (91  Km)  has  been  completed.  The  alignment traverses through State of Karnataka and Kerala.  The Project has low traffic projections.

The survey of New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling of existing rail network are taken up under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) for the development  of multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various Economic Zones with an objective to have integrated planning, enhanced logistics efficiency and remove gaps for seamless movement of people, goods and services, connectivity to industrial clusters, ports, mines,  power  plants,  agricultural  zones  including  tourist  and  cultural places.

Though State Government of Kerala has consented to share the cost of project, State Government of Karnataka has not given any consent to share the cost.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects in State of Kerala as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay        | Increase w.r.t. average allocation of 2009-14   |
|----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 372 crore/year -      |                                                 |
| 2023-24  | 2,033 crore 5.5 times |                                                 |
| 2024-25  | 3,011 crore 8.1 times |                                                 |

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 Kerala is held up due to delay in land acquisition and only about 62.83 Ha land has been acquired out of total requirement of about 459.54 Ha. Railway had initiated  efforts  for  acquisition  of  land  but  could  not  succeed  in acquiring land for projects though Railway has paid 2125.61 Crore to Government of Kerala for land acquisition. Support of the Government of Kerala is needed to expedite the land acquisition.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate  commissioning  of  projects  in  State  of  Karnataka  as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay      | Increase w.r.t. average allocation of 2009-14   |
|----------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | crore/year -        | 835                                             |
| 2023-24  | 9 times             | 7,561 crore                                     |
| 2024-25  | 7,559 crore 9 times |                                                 |

In 2014-24,  1633  Km section (365 Km New line and 1268 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly  in the State the Karnataka have been commissioned at an average rate of 163.3 Km per year.

*****