Lok Sabha Question No. 1541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: DPR of Railway Line Theni to Kumily
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1541 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## DPR OF RAILWAY LINE THENI TO KUMILY

- 1541     ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the railway line from Theni towards Kumily in Idukki district;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has done any feasibility studies with respect to the above mentioned railway line; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1541 BY ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE  TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  31.07.2024    REGARDING  DPR  OF RAILWAY LINE THENI TO KUMILY

(a)  to  (d):      Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  and  taken  up  Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise/District -wise as the Indian Railways' projects may span across various State/District  boundaries.

Feasibility  study  for  new  rail  lines  between  Dindigul  and  Kumuli  via Theni  (123  Km)  as  well  as  via  Theni  and  Bodinayakkanur  (134  Km) were carried out.

Presently,  10  Nos.  of  Surveys  (02  New  Line  and  08  Doubling)  falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala having a total length of 1074 Km have been  taken  up.  The  survey  as  well  as  feasibility  study  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.

Railway  projects  are  taken  up  on  the  basis  of  remunerativeness, Railway's  own  operational    and  commercial  requirement,  technoeconomic  feasibility,  terrain,  obligatory  points,  demands  raised  by State Governments, Central  Ministries, Members  of  Parliament, other

public representatives, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon  throw  forward  of  ongoing  projects  and  overall  availability  of funds which is a continuous and ongoing process.

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  Tamil  Nadu  as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay   | Increase w.r.t. average allocation of 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 879 crore/year   | -                                               |
| 2023-24  | 6,080 crore      | 6.92 times                                      |
| 2024-25  | 6,362crore       | 7.23 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 Tamil Nadu is held up due to delay in land acquisition and only about 807 Ha land has been acquired out of total requirement  of  about  2749  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.

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