Lack of state nod stalling projects, blames Railway Minister in LS

He had informed the lower house of the Parliament last week that majority of the railway projects in the state of Tamil Nadu were getting delayed due to delay in acquisition of land, statutory clearances like forestry clearance and consent of the Govt of Tamil Nadu to share 50 per cent of the cost of projects. 

Going by the Minister’s reply, eight new line projects covering 849 kms at a cost of Rs 11,405 crore and five gauge-conversion projects (1,051km) worth Rs 4,667 crore and an estimated Rs 5,718 crore wroth nine doubling projects (596 km) falling fully/partly in Tamil Nadu were under different stages of planning/sanction/execution.

One of the key new line projects, Tindivanam–Nagari (179.2 km), which was sanctioned in 2006-07, is in a state of limbo even now. Of the 1,712 acres to be acquired in Tamil Nadu and for which the documents have been given to state government, only 4.67 acres have been acquired. 

Likewise, the Attipattu – Puttur line sanctioned in 2008-09 hang in balance, courtesy Ennore Port Trust, which went back on its promise to share 50 per cent of project cost citing difficulty in achieving anticipated traffic in the section. The Minister has conceded that it could not take up work due to non-availability of land and refusal to share funds. 

Sriperumbudur–Guduvanchery (with spur to Irungattukottai – Avadi – Sriperumbudur), one of the crucial rail links on the industrial corridor near the state capital has yet to get requisite clearances despite being included in the 2013-14 budget. Even in the 91.05 km Erode-Palani new line, railway has stopped requesting the state govt to share 50 per cent of project cost.