Question : High Speed Rail Corridor

(a) whether the Government is planning to use Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology survey to expedite work on India’s first high speed train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the survey work will be completed;

(c) whether LIDAR is among four surveys being conducted by RITES to finalise the alignment of the corridor and if so, the details thereof and the cost involved in the survey;

(d) the estimated cost involved in the project of high speed train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to complete the high speed train corridor project on a time bound manner?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is an aerial survey technique to acquire land details. The Aerial Lidar survey for Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project has been completed in March 2017.

(c): Yes, Madam. The other three surveys are (i) Geotechnical Investigations, (ii) Hydrological Survey and (iii) Land Survey using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology and preparation of land plans. The total cost of these surveys is approximately ? 40 crore.

(d) & (e): The estimated cost of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project is ? 97,636 crore. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRC) has been incorporated to implement this project. General Consultant has been appointed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to prepare Design documents, bidding documents and technical standards & specifications. Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project is targeted for completion in 2023.

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