(a) whether no rail line has been laid in Tonk and Banswara till date;
(b) if so, the details thereof and whether any master plan is being formulated by the Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Rajasthan is among backward States of the country in respect of rail transport/tracks and electrification; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2925 BY SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.12.2015 REGARDING TONK AND BANSWARA RAIL LINE
(a) &(b): Ajmer (Nasirabad)-Sawai Madhopur (Chauth Ka Barwara) via Tonk (165 kms) and Ratlam-Dungarpur via Banswara (176 kms) new line projects have been taken up to connect Tonk and Banswara to the Railway network.
(c)&(d): Rajasthan has a Railway network density of 12.40 track kms (including double/multiple lines,yards, etc.) per lakh population against national average of 9.76 . In terms of area, Rajasthan has network density of 2.48 track kms per hundred square kms against national average of 3.59.
However, keeping aspirations of public in view, 8 new line, 7 gauge conversion and 11 doubling projects falling fully/partly in Rajasthan having a total length of 4011 kms have been taken up for further expansion of railway network there. In addition,Western Dedicated Freight Corridor passing through the State of Rajasthan has also been taken up.
As on 01.04.2015, 795 route kilometres out of total 5898 kms are electrified in the state of Rajasthan which is about 13.5%. There are two ongoing Railway Electrification projects in the state of Rajasthan. 4 Railway Electrification projects falling partly/fully in the state have been included in Rail Budget 2015-16 subject to obtaining requisite statutory approvals.
Presently,adequate number of train services are available for the State of Rajasthan. However,Indian Railways do not run trains on State-wise basis as rail network and train operations cut across state boundaries.
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