(a) whether the Railways are considering to lay exclusive
tracks for sea-port cargo traffic;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether RITES has conducted any study for ascertaining
financial viability of such projects;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any proposal is pending with Railways for
clearance in this regard; and
(f) if so, the time by which the project is likely to be
cleared?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)
(a) to (f): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2869 BY SHRI ANNASAHEB M.K.
PATIL TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.3.2001 REGARDING LAYING OF TRACKS
FOR SEA PORT CARGO TRAFFIC
(a) & (b): All major ports of the country are already well
connected by rail. Efforts are being made by the Government
to provide the connectivity to new ports being built to
attract more traffic from hinterland to ports and vice
versa. Some of the new Ports like the Port of Pipavav and
the Mundra Port have shown interest in investing in Railway
infrastructure.
(c) to (f): Yes, Sir. RITES have conducted the following
three seaport related techno-economic feasibility studies:
1) Provision of a BG rails link between Bharuch and the
port of Dahej by way of conversion of the existing rail
route from NG to BG (Client: Gujarat Maritime Board)
2) Techno-Economic feasibility of Surendranagar - Rajula
gauge conversion from MG to BG and a new line from Rajula to
the port of Pipavav (Client: Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited)
3) Techno-Economic feasibility for gauge conversion from
MG to BG between Gandhidham and Palanpur (Client Ministry of
Railways, Kandla Port Trust and Gujarat Adani Port Limited)
As the funding of the above projects involve several
Parties, it is not possible to set a timeframe for clearance
of the projects. However, two of these projects i.e.
Gandhidham - Palanpur conversion and the Surendranagar -
Pipavav project have already been cleared by the Government.
Funding for the Surendranagar - Pipavav project through the
SPV route has also been finalised and Cabinet`s approval
taken for this.