Lok Sabha Question No. 361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 361 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## SEVOKE-RANGPO RAILWAY PROJECT

361.  DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  expected  date  of  completion  of  Sevoke-Rangpo  railway project;
- (b) whether the Government has received or prepared any proposal for railway line project to connect the capital town Gangtok and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  introduce  Vande Bharat  train  after  the  completion  of  the  project  connecting Sevoke-Rangpo and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   the details of the total cost incurred on this project till date and the total projected cost till its completion?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 361 BY DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  27.11.2024  REGARDING  SEVOKERANGPO RAILWAY PROJECT

(a), (b) and (d):  Ministry of  Railway  has  taken  up  the  work  of Sevoke-Rangpo (44 km) new line project. The anticipated cost of the project  is  ₹12,132  crore.  An  expenditure  of  ₹7,032  core  has  been incurred  upto  March,  2024,  with  an  outlay  of  ₹2,330  crore  for  the year 2024-25.

The project involves about 39 km of tunneling, out of which 36 km. tunneling has been completed.

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 and cost of the project/s.

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,

Contd…2

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.

Final Location Survey (FLS) for Rangpo - Gangtok new line (69 Km.)  project  for  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  has been sanctioned.

(c) Introduction of train services, including Vande Bharat services, is  an  ongoing  process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational feasibility, traffic justification, resource availability etc.

*****