STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1631 BY SHRI VIJAYKUMAR RUPANI TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 17.07.2009 REGARDING GAUGE CONVERSION IN GUJARAT.

 

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Government of Gujarat has requested for taking up new gauge conversion projects in Gujarat. The details and status of the proposed gauge conversions is as under:

 

 S. No.

Proposal

Status

1.

Ahmedabad-Mehsana-Taranga-Ambaji

Survey for gauge conversion of Mahesana-Taranga hill with extension to Ambaji has been completed and proposal could not be considered due to its un-remunerative nature.  

2.

Bhavnagar-Mahuva

It is already a broad gauge line.  

3.

Ahmedabad-Botad-Bhavnagar and

Dhasa-Jetalsar

Proposal for Ahmedabad-Botad and Dhasa-Jetalsar conversion was processed for “In Principle” approval of Planning Commission, who desired that the gauge conversion of the section may be deferred for the present as the projected traffic do not justify immediate conversion. Botad-Bhavnagar is already a broad gauge line.    

4.

Wankarner-Bhuj-Naliya

A broad gauge line is already exists from Wankarner to Bhuj. The conversion of Bhuj-Naliya has been taken up.  

5.

Narrow gauge railway lines under jurisdiction of Vadodara Railway Division.

Gauge conversion of Bharuch-Samni-Dahej, Pratapnagar-Chhotaudepur, Ankaleshwar-Rajpipla has been taken up.   

6.

Viramgam-Samakhiali

It is already on broad gauge.

7.

Navlakhi-Maliya-Rajkot

It is already on broad gauge.

8.

Ahmedabad-Khedbrahma-Ambaji

The work on Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar has already been taken up as part of Ahmedabad-Udaipur conversion. The survey for Himmatnagar-Khedbrahma with extension to Abu Road has been taken up.    

9.

Mahesana-Viramgam

It is already on broad gauge.

10.

Viramgam-Surendranagar

It is already on broad gauge.

11.

Samakhiali-Gandhidham-Kandla

It is already on broad gauge. The doubling of Gandhidham-Kandla Port by gauge conversion of meter gauge line to broad gauge has been included in Budget 2009-10.  

12.

Gandhidham-Anjar-Mundra

It is already on broad gauge. 

13.

Bahvnagar-Adhelal-Dholera-Vataman-Petlad

There is no such railway line.  

14.

Dholera-Bhimnath

There is no such railway line.

15.

Khambhat to Port

There is no such railway line.

 

Request was also made to expedite ongoing gauge conversion projects. These projects are progressed as per availability of resources.

 

(c): The new works would be taken up as and when sanctioned.

 

(d): Does not arise.

*******