Lok Sabha Question No. 3808 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Freight Movement from New Mangalore Port
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3808 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## FREIGHT MOVEMENT FROM NEW MANGALORE PORT

3808. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated plans to improve rail infrastructure for handling freight movement from New Mangalore Port;
- (b) the status of freight rail connectivity between the New Mangalore port and major inland destinations;
- (c) the details of ongoing or proposed projects to enhance capacity of the same;
- (d)  whether  the  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide seamless multimodal connectivity at the port for efficient freight handling;
- and
- (e) the status of the merger of Konkan Railways with Indian Railways and reasons for delay, if any?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d)  New  Mangalore  Port  is  connected  to  major  inland  destinations through  Indian  Railway  network  in  Southern  Railway,  South  Western Railway and Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.

Various steps undertaken  to improve  rail infrastructure and  provide seamless multimodal connectivity at the port for efficient freight handling include:

- (i) Doubling and electrification between Panamburu and Mangaluru Junction

(ii) Electronic interlocking at Padil, Jokatte and Mangaluru junction

(iii) Yard modification at Panamburu

(iv) Electrification between Padil and Mysuru junction.

Further  the  Broad  gauge  single  line  section  between  Hassan-Mangaluru (183Km) was commissioned in 2006 by converting earlier Meter Gauge into Broad  Gauge  section  through  a  SPV  with  major  share  of  Government  of Karnataka. This section crosses western ghats and has sharp curves and gradients.  This  line  is  a  vital  link  and  connects  Mangalore  port  to  the hinterland  of  Karnataka.  Due  to  poor  financial  health  of  SPV,  Ministry  of Railways has proposed to takeover this line so that capacity augmentation works such as doubling, electrification etc can be taken up.

Accordingly, a Final Location Survey (FLS) of doubling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru has been sanctioned in two parts viz. (i) Mangaluru-Hassan (247 Km) and (ii) Hassan-Chickbanavara (Bengaluru) via Kunigal (166 Km). Further, a survey for 3rd & 4th line between Bengaluru-Tumakuru (30 Km) has also been sanctioned.

As on 01.04.2024, 31 Railways projects (21 New Line, and 10 Doubling) of total length 3,840 Km, costing ₹47,016 crore, falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka, are at various stages of planning and implementation, out of which  1,302  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ₹17,383  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March'2024.  The  summary  is  as under:-

| Plan Head               |   No. of projects | Total Length (in Km)   | Length Commissioned (in Km)   | Expenditure upto March 2024 (₹in Cr.)   |
|-------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| New Line                |                21 | 2556                   | 395                           | 7,592                                   |
| Doubling /Multitracking |                10 | 1284                   | 907                           | 9,791                                   |
| Total                   |                31 | 3,840                  | 1,302                         | 17,383                                  |

Survey  of  total  56  projects  (19  new  line  and  37  doubling)  of  total  length 6159 Km falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka have been sanctioned during last three year (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and current financial year

2024-25) including Final Location Survey (FLS) of  doubling  between Mangaluru - Hassan (247 Km) and 3rd and 4th line between Mangalore Shoranur (307 Km).

Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works,  falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                           |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹835 crore/year                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹7,559 crore (more than 9 times) |

The details of commissioning/laying of new track falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka during 2009-14 and 2014-24 is as under:

| Period   | Total Track Commissioned   | Average Track Commissioned   |
|----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 565 Km                     | 113 Km/Year                  |
| 2014-24  | 1,633 Km                   | 163Km/Year                   |

(e)  There  are  five  shareholders  in  Konkan  Railway  Corporation  Limited (KRCL), namely, Ministry of Railways, Government of Maharashtra, Government of Karnataka, Government of Goa and Government of Kerala. KRCL is registered under Companies Act since 1990. The infrastructure of Konkan  Railway  Corporation  Limited  (KRCL)  has  become  more  than  25 years old, requiring major renewal/replacement of capital assets to ensure safety  of  traffic  including  doubling  and  rehabilitation  of  tunnels.  This requires major capital expenditure. To meet the capital expenditure, all the shareholder  State  Governments,  namely,  Government  of  Maharashtra, Government of Karnataka, Government of Goa and Government of Kerala have been approached by the Ministry of Railways to contribute for capital expenditure in KRCL as per their share or to relinquish their share in favour of  Ministry of  Railways. Only the  State Government of Goa has conveyed willingness  to  relinquish  its  share.  Incorporation  of  KRCL  into  Indian Railways is dependent on various factors and consent of the shareholder State  Governments  to  relinquish  their  share  in  favour  of  the  Ministry  of Railways  to  convert  KRCL  into  a  100%  Central  Government  owned company before its merger into Indian Railways.

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