Lok Sabha Question No. 2916 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Surendranagar-Rajkot Rail Line Doubling Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2916 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## SURENDRANAGAR-RAJKOT RAIL LINE DOUBLING PROJECT

2916.      SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the advantages of Surendranagar-Rajkot rail line doubling project for local industries and the socio-economic well-being of neighbouring regions;
- (b) the existing line capacity and enhanced capacity post-completion of the project;
- (c) whether any plans have been proposed for the introduction of new trains on this railway section;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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. 2916 BY SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA AND SHRI DIPSINH  SHANKARSINH  RATHOD  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 20.12.2023  REGARDING  SURENDRANAGAR-RAJKOT  RAIL  LINE  DOUBLING PROJECT

(a) to (e):-    Surendranagar-Rajkot doubling project (116 km) length has been completed  and  commissioned in February, 2023. The doubling would facilitate  local  industries  of  Petroleum,  Oil  etc.  and  promote  the  freight earning of Railways by transporting multiple commodities. After completion of doubling, the line capacity has increased by more than 100%.

As on 01.04.2023, total 36 Railway infrastructure Projects (6 New Lines, 18 Gauge  conversion  and  12  Doubling),  of  total  length  3,200  km,  costing ₹30,789  crores  falling  fully/partly  in  Gujarat  are  under  different  stages  of planning/approval/execution, out of which 735 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹6,113 crores has been incurred upto March, 2023. These include:

- (i) 6 New Line projects of total length 520 km costing ₹6,950 crores, out of which 90 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹2,227 crore has been incurred upto March, 2023.
- (ii) 18 Gauge Conversion projects of total length 1567 km costing ₹12,336 crores,  out  of  which  645  km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure of ₹3,527 crores has been incurred upto March, 2023.
- (iii) 12  Doubling  projects  covering  total  length  of  1,113  km  at  a  cost  of ₹11,502 crores, out of which an expenditure of ₹360 crores has been incurred upto March, 2023.

New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling projects falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat are covered by Western Railway and North Western Railway

Zones of Indian Railways. Zone-wise details of all Railway Projects including cost, expenditure and outlay are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website.

Since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  fund  allocation  and commensurate  commissioning  of  projects  across  Indian  Railways.  Budget allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works  falling/partly  in  the state of Gujarat is as under:

| Period   | Budget Outlay       | change wrt avg. annual allocation of 2009-14   |
|----------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | Rs. 589 Crores/Year | -                                              |
| 2023-24  | Rs. 8332 Crores     | 14.14 times                                    |

Commissioning  of  infrastructure  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  state  of Gujarat is as under:

| Period   | Total Track Commissioned   | Average Track Commissioned   | change wrt average commissioning during 2009-14   |
|----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 660 Km                     | 132 Km/Year                  | -                                                 |
| 2014-23  | 1,677 Km                   | 186 Km/Year                  | 1.41 times                                        |

Presently,  Surendranagar-Rajkot  sector  is  being  served  by  41  pairs  of Mail/Express  trains  including  22925/26  Ahmedabad-Jamnagar  Vande  Bharat Express. Besides, introduction of new train services is an on-going process on Indian Railway subject to operational feasibility, commercial justification etc.

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