Lok Sabha Question No. 196 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Impact of Extension of Railway Line in Shirdi Parliamentary Constituency
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 196

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## IMPACT OF EXTENSION OF RAILWAY LINE IN SHIRDI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

- †*196.  SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  doubling  and  extension  of  the  railway  line  in  the  Shirdi Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra has lead to the closure of a  major  road  near  the  old  railway  crossing  Gate  No.  44  (OHE  M70404/12-14)  at  Ladgaon  Chowki  which  previously  served  as  a  major connecting  route  for  the  villagers,  school  students  and  farmers  of Padhegaon, Ladgaon, Malunja, Kanhegaon and Bherdapur as a result of which the local residents and commuters of nearby areas including the above said villages are now facing great difficulties;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to construct a small underpass near the old railway crossing Gate No. 44 (OHE M No. 404/3-4) at Ladgaon - Padhegaon, Shrirampur;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  also  received  any  representation  from the public representatives in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the progress made so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 196 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025.

(a)  to  (e):  Old  Railway  Crossing  gate  No.  44  (OHE  M  70-404/12-14)  was situated  between    Rahuri  and  Padhegaon  stations.  A  Road  under  Bridge (RUB)  No.  402/1  at  Km  402/5-6  was  constructed  in  2015  in  lieu  of  Level Crossing (LC) gate No. 44, for the existing single line.

Further, during the construction  of  double  line  between  Rahuri  and Padhegaon  stations  as  a  part  of  Daund  -  Manmad  (247  km)  doubling project, extension of RUB was done.  During extension of RUB, accesses of RUB was temporarily closed for 20 days. The same was opened after the completion of works of extension of RUB.

As  per  extant  policy,  provision  of  railway  track  crossing  work  (Subway/ FOB) at Non LC locations may be taken up by Railways, if the location is affecting  safety  in  train  operations,  mobility  of  trains  and  conditions  of infrastructures  adversely  due  to  trespassing,  in  phases  depending  on  its priority, feasibility and availability of funds.

The  work  of  preparation  of  technical  feasibility  report/Detailed  project report (TFR/ DPR) for the construction of Subway/ FOB at the location of old LC gate no. 44 has been taken up. Further action depends on TFR/ DPR.

Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations,  both  formal  and  informal for Railway projects/Works across the country are received on the basis of demands raised by 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/complaints/suggestions 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.

Railway infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra  are  covered  under  Central  Railway (CR), South  Central Railway (SCR), Western Railway (WR), South East Central Railway (SECR) and South Western Railway (SWR) zones of Indian Railways. Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects including cost, expenditure and outlay are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website.

Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise as Indian Railways' projects may span across State boundaries. However, As on 01.04.2024, 41 Railway projects (16 New Lines, 02 Gauge Conversions and 23 Doubling), of total length of 5,877 Km, costing ₹81,580 crore falling fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra,  are  at  various  stages  of  planning and implementation, out of which 1,926 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹31,237 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.

## The status of work is summarized as under:-

| Category   | No. of   | Total Length (in Km)   | Length Commissioned (in Km)   | Expenditure upto March, 2024 (₹ in Cr.)   |
|------------|----------|------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|            | projects |                        |                               |                                           |
| New Lines  | 16       | 2,017                  | 166                           | 8,529                                     |

| Gauge         | 2   | 609   | 312   | 3,332   |
|---------------|-----|-------|-------|---------|
| Conversion    |     |       |       |         |
| Doubling/     | 23  | 3,251 | 1,448 | 19,376  |
| Multitracking |     |       |       |         |
| Total         | 41  | 5,877 | 1,926 | 31,237  |

Average  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  other  works, falling fully/ partly in Maharashtra is as under:-

| Period   | Outlay                              |
|----------|-------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹1,171 crore/year                   |
| 2024-25  | ₹15,940 crore ( more than 13 times) |

Commissioning  of  sections  (New  Line,  Gauge  Conversion  and  Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra during 2009-14 and 2014-2024 is as under:-

| Period   | New track Commissioned   | Average commissioning of new tracks   |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 292 Km                   | 58.4 Km/year                          |
| 2014-24  | 1,830 Km                 | 183 Km/year (more than 3 times)       |

Contd…4/-

Further, Construction works on the flagship High speed bullet train project have gathered momentum in Maharashtra. Now 100% land acquisition has been  completed.  Works  of  bridges,  aqueducts  etc.  have  been  taken  up. Orders for 3 TBMs to carry out about 21 Km tunneling under sea have also been placed. Meanwhile, all preparatory works required for the working of TBMs such as construction of shafts etc. have also been taken up.

Western  DFC  also  passes  through  Maharashtra.  About  178  route  Km  of western DFC is situated in Maharashtra which is about 12% of overall route length  of  western  DFC.  76  Km  of  this  project  from  New  Gholvad  to  New Vaitarna  in  Maharashtra  has  already  been  commissioned.  Balance  works have been taken up. Connectivity of WDFC to JNPT will boost the capacity to handle cargo and container traffic from port to Delhi NCR.

During  the  last  three  years  and  current  year,  91  No.  Surveys  (New  line, Gauge  Conversion  and  Doubling/multi  tracking)  of  total  length  7,458  km falling fully/partly in the state of Maharashtra have been sanctioned.

Completion  of  Railway  project/s  depends  on  various  factors  like  land acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by  officials  of  forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc. All these factors affect the completion time of the project/s.

Various steps taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation of rail projects include (i) substantial increase in allocation of  funds,  (ii)  delegation  of  powers  at  field  level,  (iii)  close  monitoring  of progress  of  project  at  various  levels  (iv)  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.

*****