(a) whether the Government proposes to connect all State capitals by rail in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the time likely to be taken in this regard;
(c) whether the Government also proposes to provide rail link in all hilly regions of the country to provide cheap and affordable transport facility to the people of these regions; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) & (b): It is the endeavour of Indian Railways to provide Rail connectivity to all the State capitals of the country. Presently connectivity exists for all State capitals except Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Goa. To provide connectivity to capitals of Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram; construction of Byrnihat-Shillong, Jiribam-Imphal, Dimapur-Kohima and Bhairabi-Sairang, new line projects have been taken up expeditiously. Sivok-Rangpo new line has been taken up to bring Sikkim on railway map but the extension of this line upto its capital has not been taken up. Rail connectivity exists in Goa upto Vasco-da-Gama and there is no proposal to connect Panaji at present.
(c) & (d): The hilly regions viz. Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, eastern Himalayas, Kangra area, Nilgiri Mountain areas of Tamil Nadu and the Matheran Hill areas Western Ghats do have Metre Gauge connectivity to cater to tourism. These areas are covered under Kalka–Shimla Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Kangra Valley Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Matheran Hill Railway. Many railway projects such as Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Rishkesh-Karnprayag, Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri, Murkongselek-Pasighat etc. have been taken up which pass through hilly regions to provide affordable and comfortable connectivity to the people. Augmenting railway connectivity to all areas including hilly areas is a continuous and ongoing process.
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