(a) whether several areas in Gujarat are still not connected by railway network due to which people in the said areas are deprived of railway facility and development in these areas is stalled;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which the Government proposes to start projects to connect these areas of Gujarat by railway network to ensure railway facility for people living in the said areas and also development of these areas?
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. 125 BY SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.07.2021 REGARDING RAILWAY NETWORK IN GUJARAT
(a) to (c): Gujarat State is very well connected with Railway Network. As on 01.04.2020, total 5301 route km of railway track exists in Gujarat.
To further improve the railway connectivity, 4 new line railway projects of total length 479 km costing `5,006 crore, are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat. Out of above, 79 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `1772 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. These projects will provide connectivity to deprived areas.
Major ports of Gujarat namely Kandla, Mundra, Porbander, Pipavav, Dahej are already well connected with Railway Network. To boost further development, existing railway tracks are also being doubled. At present, 11 doubling projects covering a length of 1612 km at a cost of `15,163 crore are in different stages of Planning/Sanction/Execution, falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat. Out of above, 272 km double line has been commissioned and an expenditure of `3,717 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.
Average Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat, during 2014-19 has increased to `3327 crore per year, from `589 crore per year (during 2009-14). Thus the average annual budget allocation during 2014-19 is 465% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14 (`589 crore per year). Total Budget outlay for these works for financial year 2021-22 is `4,484 crore, which is 661% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.
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