Lok Sabha Question No. 395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Expedition of Chikkaballapur-Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 395 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## EXPEDITION OF CHIKKABALLAPUR-SRI SATYA SAI PRASHANTI NILAYAM LINE

## 395.  DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether steps have been taken/being taken by the Government to expedite the Chikkaballapur-Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam (Puttaparthy) BG Line (103 KM) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  proposal  regarding  the  above  line  has  been  placed before CCEA for approval and if so, complete details thereof;
- (c) the present status of Chikkaballapur-Gauribidanur BG Line;
- (d) the  steps  and  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to expedite  the  process  of  pending  projects  at  Chikkaballapur  Lok Sabha constituency;
- (e) whether there has been a long delay in completion of survey works conducted by the Government for the said Constituency and if so, the steps taken to expedite the same; and
- (f) new  projects  that  have  been  sanctioned  by  the  Government  for constituency?

## 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.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  395  BY  SHRI  DR.  K  SUDHAKAR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2024 REGARDING EXPEDITION OF CHIKKABALLAPUR - SRI SATYA SAI PRASHANTI NILAYAM LINE

(a) to (f): Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway-wise and not Constituency-wise/State-wise as the Indian Railway's projects may span across various Constituencies boundaries/State boundaries.

Survey of Chikkaballapur - Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam (Puttaparthy) new Rail Line (103 Km) has been completed. The project could not be taken forward due to low traffic projection.

Final Location Survey (FLS) between Chikkaballapur - Gowribidanur New Rail line (44 Km) has been sanctioned for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Sanctioning of Railway projects is a continuous and dynamic process of Indian  Railway.  Railway  Infrastructure  Projects  are  taken  up  on  the basis  of  remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing  links  and alternate routes,  augmentation  of  congested/saturated lines socioeconomic  considerations  etc.  depending  upon  liabilities  of  ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

Survey of total 56 projects (19 new line and 37 doubling) of total length 6159  Km  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Karnataka  have  been sanctioned  during  last  three  year  (2021-22,  2022-23,    2023-24  and current financial year 2024-25).

Further,  as  on  01.04.2024,  total  31  Railway  Infrastructure  Projects (21  New  Line  and  10  Doubling),  of  total  length  of  3,840  Km,  costing ₹47,016  crore  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Karnataka  are  in planning/  approval/  construction  stages,  out  of  which  1,302  Km  length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹17,382 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024. These include:

- (i) 21  New Line projects of total length of 2,556  Km costing ₹33,125 crore, out of which 395 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹7,592 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.
- (ii) 10  Doubling  projects  of  total  length  of  1,284  Km  costing  ₹13,891 crore, out of which 907 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹9,791 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.

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  | 835 crore/year   | -                                               |
| 2024-25  | 7,559 crore      | 9 times                                         |

Commissioning of infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka is as under:

| Period   | Total Track Commissioned   | Average Track Commissioned   | Increase w.r.t. average commissioning during 2009-14   |
|----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 565 Km                     | 113 Km/year                  | -                                                      |
| 2014-24  | 1,633 Km                   | 163 Km/year                  | 1.44 times                                             |

The completion of any Railway survey work depends on various factors like  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.

Various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  speedy  approval  and implementation of rail projects which include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti units (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase in allocation of  funds  on  priority  projects  (iv)  delegation  of  powers  at  field  level (v)  close  monitoring  of  progress  of  project  at  various  levels,  and  (vi) 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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