(a) the number of proposals for conducting survey to lay new railway lines included in the Rail Budget for 2004-05;
(b) the time schedule fixed for completing the survey of these new railway lines;
(c) the criteria fixed for according approval to these new railway lines after completion of survey; and
(d) the data regarding railway network in the country, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R. VELU)
(a) & (b): A total No. of 41 surveys/updating of surveys were included in the Budget 2004-05. All the surveys are targeted for completion by 2005-06.
(c): The policy for taking up new lines projects was enunciated by the National Transport Policy Committee in 1980. This policy states that new lines would be taken up on the following criteria:
(i) Project oriented lines to serve new industries for tapping mineral and other resources.
(ii) Missing links for completing alternative routes.
(iii) Lines required for strategic reasons; and
(iv) Lines for establishment of new growth centres or giving access to remote areas.