Lok Sabha Question No. 1498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Ernakulam-Shoranur Third Track
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1498

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## ERNAKULAM-SHORANUR THIRD TRACK

## 1498   SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Railways  is  examining  ErnakulamShoranur  third  track  and  Thrissur-Thiirunavaya  double  track  and  if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that the railways is considering for doubling of the single track between Thrissur and Guruvayur or introduction of a  new  Guruvayur-Thirunavaya  double-track  corridor  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is fact that these said projects would to help reduce the distance to the Malabar region and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  survey  for  final  location  of  the Guruvayur-Thirunavaya double track corridor is progressing and the Railways  is  planning  to  include  the  second  track  of  the  ThrissurGuruvayur route in this project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether it is a fact that the Railways is also planning to determine the  area  of  land  required  for  building  a  fourth  track  between Ernakulam  and  Shoranur  while  laying  the  third  track  between Ernakulam and Shoranur and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1498 BY SHRI V K SREEKANDAN   TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024  REGARDING ERNAKULAM-SHORANUR THIRD TRACK

(a)  to  (e): The  survey  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 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,  enhancing  connectivity  to  tourist  and  cultural  places  etc. depending upon liabilities of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands

A Final Location Survey (FLS) for 3 rd  line between Ernakulam and Soranur (104  Km)  has  been  sanctioned  for  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report (DPR) with consideration of structure and land acquisition for 4 th  line also.

The work of New Line Project between Guruvayur and Tirunavaya (35 Km), was sanctioned in 1995-96 but it could not be taken up further due to public protest  against  the  alignment  and  no  support  from  State  Government. Further, doubling of existing railway line is taken up based on operational and commercial requirement, techno-economic feasibility, terrain, obligatory points, social-economic considerations etc.

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.

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  | 372 crore/year - |                                         |
| 2023-24  | 2,033 crore      | more than 5 times                       |
| 2024-25  | 3,011 crore      | more than 8 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.

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