(a) the status of Balurghat-Hilly Railway Line Project;
(b) the status of Buniadpur Railway Wagon Factory;
(c) whether the Railways have framed any policy to connect backward areas of different States with rail connectivity;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Railways in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a): Work of Balurghat-Hilly (30 km) new line has been sanctioned with latest anticipated cost of Rs. 242 crores and an expenditure of Rs. 40 crores has been incurred upto March, 2014, with an outlay of Rs. 2 crores during 2014-15. Final Location Survey for the work has been completed and land acquisition proceedings initiated. Earthwork, bridges have been taken up, wherever land is available.
(b): Work of setting up of wagon manufacturing factory at Buniadpur has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 136 crores. On account of slow growth rate of freight traffic, Railways is reviewing the requirement of setting up new wagon factories vis-à-vis the available wagon production capacity. Hence the work of setting up of this wagon factory has not been proceeded with.
(c) to (e): No mandate is available to Railways to connect backward areas of different states with rail connectivity. However, a large number of new railway lines which are financially unviable have been taken up on socio-economic considerations to connect backward areas.