Lok Sabha Question No. 197 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: New Railway Lines from Chennai to Cuddalore
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vaithilingam Ve.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## NEW RAILWAY LINES FROM CHENNAI TO CUDDALORE

- *197.     SHRI VE. VAITHILINGAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of new  railway lines from Chennai to Cuddalore via Mahabalipuram, Marakkanam and Puducherry and that connecting Nagari-Tindivanam-Puducherry;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  is  considering  a  separate  project  of connecting Tindivanam and Cuddalore via Puducherry; and
- (c) if so, the plan envisaged for the same?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS 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. 197 BY SHRI VE. VAITHILINGAM TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK  SABHA  ON  02.08.2023  REGARDING  NEW  RAILWAY  LINES  FROM CHENNAI TO CUDDALORE

(a) to (c): Chennai-Cuddalore via Mamallapuram, Marakanam, Puducherry is a new line project of 179.28 Km  length. Latest anticipated cost  of  the  project  is ` 2670  crore.  An  outlay  of ` 50  crore  has  been provided  for  Financial  Year  2023-24.  Government  of  Puducherry  had requested for change in alignment towards northern and southern sides of  Villupuram-Puducherry  existing  line  as  well  as  doubling  of  tracks between Puducherry and Cuddalore.

As aforesaid revision in alignment was based on the request of the Government  of  Puducherry,  State  Government  was  requested  to  bear additional  cost  due  to  above  revision  in  alignment  and  doubling  of tracks.

However,  the  State  Government  has  shown  their  inability  to bear additional  cost  of  the  project  due  to  revision  in  alignment  vide letter dated 16.05.2018. However, Final Location Survey (FLS) has been taken up on revised alignment.

Tindivanam-Nagari is a new line project of 185 Km length. Latest anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ` 3631  crore.  An  expenditure  of ` 697 crore has been incurred upto March, 2023. The 6 Km section between Walajah Road to Ranipet has been commissioned. Further land acquisition has been taken up by State Government of Tamil Nadu. An outlay of ` 200 crore has been provided for Financial Year 2023-24.

Survey  of  new  line  between  Tindivanam  and  Puducherry  (44  Km) was conducted in 2015-16. The project could not be taken forward due to low traffic projections.  Puducherry to Cuddalore is a part of Chennai Cuddalore new line project.

Further,  as  on  01.04.2023,  23  projects  (09  new  lines,  03  Gauge Conversion and 11 Doubling) covering total length of 2,848 Km at a cost of ` 35,580  crore  falling  fully/partly  in  Tamil  Nadu  are  under  different stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which 839 Km length has been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 9,078  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2023.

Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  Projects  and  safety  works falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu:

| Period   | Average Outlay   | %age more as compared to average allocation during 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ` 879 Cr.        | -                                                            |
| 2014- 23 | ` 2,523 Cr.      | 187% more                                                    |
| 2023-24  | ` 6,080 Cr.      | 592% more                                                    |

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