Lok Sabha Question No. 2720 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Completion of ongoing Projects and Additional connectivity in Kallakurichi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2720 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## COMPLETION OF ONGOING PROJECTS AND ADDITIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN KALLAKURICHI

2720      SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the construction of new railway line from Chinnasalem to kallakurichi with financial contribution from State and Union Governments has been growing on slow pace since 2016;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken/to be taken to complete the work at the earliest;
- (c) the action plan of the Government  to  allocate funds for extension of railway line from Kallakurichi to Mugaiyur railway station for 60km via Thiyagadurugam, Thirukoilure Diromg this year which will benefit lakhs of commuters; and
- (d) the further plan of the Government to grant a new railway line to  connect  Salem  and  Thiruvanamalai  via  Kallakurichi  and Kallakurichi with Ulunderpet?

## 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.  2720  BY  SHRI  MALAIYARASAN  D  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2024 REGARDING COMPLETION OF ONGOING PROJECTS AND ADDITIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN KALLAKURICHI

(a) to (d):  Railway projects are sanctioned and taken up Zonal Railwaywise  and  not  State-wise  as  the  Indian  Railways'  projects  may  span across various State boundaries. However,  as on 01.04.2024, 22 Railways infrastructures projects (10 new line, 03 Gauge conversion and 09  doubling)  of  total  length  2,587  Km,  costing 33,467  crore,  falling fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  are  in  different  stages  of planning/sanctioning/  execution,  out  of  which  665  Km  length  has  been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of 7,153  crore  has  been  incurred upto March, 2024. These include:-

-  10 New Line Projects of total length 872 Km, costing  14,669 crore, out  of  which  24  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure of  1,223 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.
-  03  Gauge  Conversion  Projects  of  total  length  748  Km,  costing 5,417 crore, out of which 604 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of 3,267 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.
-  09 Doubling Projects of total length 967 Km, costing  13,381 crore, out  of  which  37  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure of  2,664 crore has been incurred upto March, 2024.

Chinnasalem  -  Kallakurichi(16  Km)  new  line  has  been  sanctioned  on 50:50  cost  sharing  basis  between  Railway  and  State  Government  of Tamil Nadu. An outlay of    99 crore has been provided for Financial Year 2024-25. Work has been taken up in available land.

The completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forestry  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  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.  With  above  constraints,  every  effort  is  being  made  to execute the project(s) expeditiously.

The connectivity between Kallakurichi and Mugaiyur has been envisaged via  Vriddhachalam  on  completion  of  Chinnasalem  -  Kallakurichi  New Line  Project.  Moreover,  Tirukkovilur  is  an  existing  station  on  Indian Railway Network. New Rail line of Kallakurichi -Mugaiyur via Thiyagadurugam is not under consideration at present.

Salem  is  already  connected  with  Tiruvannamallai  and  Ulundurpet  via Villupuram  and  Vriddhachalam.  The  connectivity  between  Salem  and Tiruvannamallai  has  been  envisaged  on  completion  of  Chinnasalem  Kallakurichi New Line Project. Moreover, a survey between Kallakurichi and  Tiruvannamallai  (69  Km)  has  been  sanctioned  for  preparation  of Detailed Project Report(DPR).

Railway Infrastructure Projects are taken up on the basis of remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing  links  and  alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines socio-economic considerations  etc. depending  upon  liabilities of ongoing  projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

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      | more than 6 times                               |
| 2024-25  | 6,362crore       | more than 7 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.

- -4-

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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