Lok Sabha Question No. 132 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Strengthening of Suburban Railway Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 132 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## STRENGTHENING OF SUBURBAN RAILWAY NETWORK

*132 DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has taken fresh initiatives to upgrade and strengthen  suburban  railway  network  between  Palghar  and Mumbai;
- (b) if so, the details of the projects approved and under implementation along with progress made  including their present status, project-wise; and
- (c) the  details  of  action  plan  finalized  and  to  be  considered  to strengthen and modernise suburban railway transport to ensure safety and security?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 132 BY DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING STRENGTHENING OF SUBURBAN RAILWAY NETWORK

(a)  to  (c):  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 Line, 02 Gauge Conversion and 23 Doubling), of total length of 5,877 km costing ₹81,580 crore falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra are in planning/approval/construction stages, out of which 1,926 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹31,236 crore has been incurred upto March 2024. These include-

- (i) 16 New Line projects of total length of 2,017 km costing ₹38,423 crore, out of which 166 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹8,529 crore has been incurred upto March 2024.
- (ii) 2  Gauge  Conversion  projects  of  total  length  of  609  km  costing ₹7,339 crore, out of which 312 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹3,332 crore has been incurred upto March 2024.
- (iii) 23 doubling projects of total length of 3,251 km costing ₹35,818 crore, out of which 1448 km length has been commissioned and an  expenditure  of  ₹19,376  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March 2024.

Railway infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra  are  covered  in  Central  Railway,  South  Central  Railway, South  East  Central  Railway,  South  Western  Railway  and  Western Railway Zones of Indian Railways. Zone-wise and Year-wise details of railway projects including their cost, source of funds, expenditure and outlay  are  made  available  in  public  domain  on  Indian  Railways website.

Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra is as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay   | Increase as compared to average allocation during 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹1171 crore/year | -                                                           |
| 2014-24  | ₹7197 crore/year | 6.13 times                                                  |
| 2023-24  | ₹13539 crore     | 11.56 times                                                 |
| 2024-25  | ₹15940 crore     | 13.61 times                                                 |

The  details  of  commissioning  of  infrastructure  projects  falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra, is as under:-

| Period   | Total Track Commissioned   | Average Track Commissioned   | Increase w.r.t. average commissioning during 2009-14   |
|----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 292 Km                     | 58.4 km/year                 | -                                                      |
| 2014-24  | 1830 Km                    | 183 km/year                  | 3.13 times                                             |

In 2023-24 total 358 kms have been commissioned which is more  than  6  times  as  compared  to  average  commissioning  during 2009-14.

To  reduce  congestion  in  Mumbai  suburban  corridors  (including Mumbai-Palghar),  Mumbai  Urban  Transport  Project(MUTP)-II  costing ₹8,087 crore, MUTP-III costing  ₹10,947 crore and MUTP-IIIA costing ₹33,690  crore  have  been  sanctioned  to  meet  the  future  demands  of Passengers.  These  projects  include  following  rail  links  in  Mumbai Suburban Area:

|   S.No. | Name of project                                         |   Cost (₹ in crore) |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|       1 | 6th Line Mumbai Central-Borivali (30 km)                |                 919 |
|       2 | Extension of Harbour Line Goregaon-Borivali (7 km)      |                 826 |
|       3 | Virar-Dahanu Road 3rd & 4th Line (64 km)                |                3587 |
|       4 | 5th & 6th Line CSTM-Kurla (17.5 km)                     |                 891 |
|       5 | Panvel-Karjat Suburban corridor (29.6 km)               |                2782 |
|       6 | Airoli-Kalwa (elevated) suburban corridor link (3.3 km) |                 476 |
|       7 | 5th & 6th line Borivali-Virar (26 km)                   |                2184 |
|       8 | 4th line between Kalyan-Asangaon (32 km)                |                1759 |
|       9 | 3rd & 4th line between Kalyan-Badlapur (14.05 km)       |                1510 |
|      10 | Kalyan Yard-Segregation of Main Line & Suburban         |                 866 |

Moreover,  Vasai  to  Diva  is  already  an  existing  double  broad gauge line section.  Construction of Western DFC on parallel alignment is  also  in  progress.  Further,  construction  of  Vasai  bye  pass  line (Double  line)  between  Naigaon  and  Juchandra  (5.73  Km)  has  been sanctioned  at  a  cost  of  ₹175.99  Crores.  Further  extension  of  these corridors  for  future  demands  on  suburban  corridors  is  a  continuous process.

All  MUTP  projects  have  been  sanctioned  on  50:50  cost  sharing basis between Ministry of Railways and Government of Maharashtra. However, Maharashtra Govt. was not providing requisite funds on time as per the commitment till 2022-23, resulting in delay in completion of the  projects.  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  started  funding  for

MUTP-IIIA projects from April 2023.

Panvel-Virar new suburban corridor is also taken under consideration  at  a  cost  of  ₹7,184  crore  on  50:50  cost  sharing  basis with Govt. of Maharashtra as a part of Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

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.

A number of steps have been taken to strengthen and modernize suburban  Railway  transport  to  ensuring  safety  and  security  such  as work of procurement of rolling stock, trespass control on mid section under  MUTP-III  and  III  A  Projects.  Construction  of  wall/fencing  at boundary  is  carried  out  at  encroachment  prone  locations  to  prevent human run over in suburban section with multiple tracks.

Mail/Express  trains  are  being  escorted  by  RPF  staff  daily  on Suburban section. Mixed train escorting comprising of male & female RPF staff has been introduced in trains over MMCT division to ensure safeguard of children and women passengers. Local trains are being escorted  in  night  by  GRP  in  Suburban  area.  Crime  prevention  and detection team is formed at all major stations for detection of crime.

CCTV  cameras  have  been  installed  under  Integrated  Security System (ISS) on suburban section and round the clock surveillance is being done by trained RPF personnel. Twitter, online web portal/application  and  139  helpline  are  available  for  assistance  and forwarding the complaint. Rail Madad is operational round the clock to render  assistance  to  needy  passenger.  Sakhi  WhatsApp  groups  are formed  to  associate  lady  passengers  to  solve  the  security  related problems faced by lady commuters. Talk back system is provided in ladies coaches to communicate with the guard of the train in cases of any emergency.

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