(a) whether survey for laying railway line from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh to Mandla–
Jabalpur–New Delhi was conducted many years back;
(b) if so, the reasons for delay in laying the rail line; and
(c) the time by which said line is proposed to be laid?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI R. VELU)
(a) to (c): A survey was completed during 2003–04 exploring two alternative ways of
connecting Bilaspur to Jabalpur – one, by constructing a direct line between Bilaspur
and Jabalpur via Mandla avoiding Nainpur and the other, by constructing a new line from
Bilaspur up to Mandla Fort only and completing the gauge conversion of Mandla Fort–Nainpur
section. As per the survey report, the cost of the first option was assessed as Rs.
1284.11 crore, while the second option as Rs. 736.96 crore, with a negative rate of
return (ROR) in both the cases.
In view of non-remunerative nature of the project, heavy throw-forward of ongoing projects
and acute constraint of resources, it has not been considered feasible to take up
construction of Bilaspur–Mandla–Jabalpur new line wholly or partly for the present.