Lok Sabha Question No. 2948 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Linkage of Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2948 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## LINKAGE OF RAILWAY LINE

†2948.  SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to link Barmer-JaisalmerBhabhar via Sanchore by railway line;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the estimated cost and length of the said railway line;
- (d)  whether  the  said  project  is  likely  to  be  constructed  under  the Railways joint venture model with States;
- (e)  if  so,  the  ratio  of  State  Governments  of  Gujarat  and  Rajasthan and the Railways;
- (f)  whether any time limit has been set for completion of the work with regard to the said railway line; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2948 BY SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 11.05.2016 REGARDING LINKAGE OF

RAILWAY LINE.

## (a) to (g): The details are as under:

The following two surveys have been conducted to assess the viability and feasibility of Jaisalmer-Barmer-Bhabhar new line project.,

- (i) Jaisalmer-Barmer new line (145 Kms): The survey was completed in the year 2012-13. As per the survey report, cost of  the  project was assessed at ` 516.305 crore with a rate of return of (-) 7.74%.
- (ii) Barmer-Bhabhar  new  line  (193.940  Kms):  The  survey  was completed in the year 2012-13. As per the survey report, cost of  the  project  was  assessed  at ` 785.66  crore  with  a  rate  of return of (-) 7.38%.

The above two proposals could not be taken forward in view of huge  throwforward  of ongoing projects, limited availability of resources  for  new  line  projects  and  other  competing  demands. However, Ministry of Defence (MoD) were requested in August, 2013 to convey  their views  for fully financing the construction of Jaisalmer-Barmer new line project on strategic grounds due to its proximity to international border. MoD have not included this project in the list of 14 strategically important projects approved by them.

Sanchore  does  not  fall  on  the  alignments  of  the  aforesaid surveys.  However, a  survey  for  Barmer-Dhanera  via Sanchore  new line  was completed in the year 2014-15. As per the survey report, cost  of  the  180  Kms  new  line  project  was  assessed  at ` 1081.089 crore  with  a  rate  of  return  of  (-)  7.86%.  The  project  could  not  be taken  forward  in  view  of  huge  throwforward  of  ongoing  projects, limited  availability  of  resources  for  new  line  projects  and  other competing demands.

Government of Rajasthan have agreed in principle for creation of  a  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  for  construction  of  BarmerBhabhar new line which falls on Rajasthan and Gujarat. The SPV has not been formed. Therefore, shares of Railways and State Governments in the SPV are not decided.

As the project has not been sanctioned, no time lines for  its completion  have been fixed.

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