Lok Sabha Question No. 811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Developmental Projects of Guruvayoor Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 811 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS OF GURUVAYOOR RAILWAY STATION

811. SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  ongoing  and  completed  developmental  projects  of Guruvayoor Railway station;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  construct  amenities  like  AC retiring rooms, air-conditioned waiting halls, water coolers, etc. in the aforementioned railway station considering its pilgrim importance;
- (c) whether the government is likely to introduce more trains operating to  and  from  Guruvayoor  especially  from  Northern  Kerala,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has abandoned the Guruvayoor -Thirunavaya Railway line construction project; and
- (e) if so, 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.  811  BY  SHRI  T.N.  PRATHAPAN  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS OF GURUVAYOOR RAILWAY STATION (a)  to  (e)  Ministry  of  Railways  has  recently  launched  Amrit  Bharat Station scheme. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous  basis  with  a  long-term  approach.  Guruvayoor  Railway station  is  identified  for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme. It  involves  preparation  of  Master  Plans  and  their  implementation  in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product', better passenger information systems, Executive Lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings,  landscaping  etc.  keeping  in  view  the  necessity  at  each station. The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating  the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks, 'Roof Plazas' as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term. Guruvayoor  is  presently  being  served  by  12  train  services.  Besides, introduction  of  new  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  on  Indian  Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility and availability of resources etc. The New Line Project between Guruvayur and Tirunavaya for a length of  35  Km  was  sanctioned  in  1995-96  at  a  cost  of  ₹  137.71  crore. Anticipated cost of project is ₹ 477 crore. Final  Location  Survey  (FLS)  could  be  done  only  for  about  8  Km  upto Kunnamkulam. Though an Agency was fixed for final location survey between Kunnamkulam & Tirunavaya and the trial survey to finalise the final alignment was already completed, the FLS had to be stopped due to severe public protest against the alignment. FLS  could  not  be  taken  up  further  due  to  continuous  public  protest against the alignment.

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