Lok Sabha Question No. 2953 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Doubling of Vatva-Ahmedabad Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2953 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## DOUBLING OF VATVA-AHMEDABAD RAIL LINE

2953.      DR.(PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the benefits of doubling of Vatva-Ahmedabad third railway line to local  industries  and  socio-economic  benefits  in  the  nearby regions;
- (b) the line capacity before and after the completion of the project;
- (c) whether  there  is  any  plan  for  addition  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.  2953  BY  DR.(PROF.)  KIRIT  PREMJIBHAI  SOLANKI  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  20.12.2023  REGARDING  DOUBLING  OF VATVA-AHMEDABAD RAIL LINE

(a):Vatva-Ahmedabad - 3rd line with automatic signalling (7.50 km) has been completed  and  commissioned  in July, 2022. Also,  Vatva-AhmedabadSabarmati 4 th  Line (15 km) is an ongoing project, costing ₹231.43 crores. As on 01.04.2023, an expenditure of ₹131.32 crores has been incurred on the project.  It  will  facilitate  quicker  terminus  management  of  trains  including those coming from Mumbai and reduce congestion the route substantially.

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 w.r.t. 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 w.r.t. average commissioning during 2009-14   |
|----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 660 Km                     | 132 Km/Year                  | -                                                    |
| 2014-23  | 1,677 Km                   | 186 Km/Year                  | 1.41 times                                           |

(b):After completion of this line, the present line capacity has become 130% of previous line capacity.

(c) to (e): Presently, Vatva-Ahmedabad  sector is being served by 06 passenger  trains  in  one  direction  and  05  passengers  trains  in  other direction. 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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