**Subject: Summary of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 683 Regarding Loharu-Pilani Railway Line**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting, and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 683, concerning the proposed new railway line from Loharu to Pilani in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. The question was raised on July 23, 2025, by Shri Brijendra Singh Ola.
The response clarifies that railway projects are assessed, sanctioned, and executed on a zonal railway basis, considering factors beyond state or constituency boundaries. Key criteria for project sanctioning include remunerativeness, traffic projections, last-mile connectivity, addressing missing links and congestion, state government requests, central ministry input, parliamentary representation, operational requirements, socioeconomic factors, and tourism/industry connectivity. Project selection also depends on existing project commitments and overall fund availability.
Regarding the Loharu-Pilani new line (24 km), a Final Location Survey (FLS) has been sanctioned to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), and the field survey is complete. The project's sanctioning requires consultation with stakeholders, including state governments, and approvals from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.
The response emphasizes that project sanctioning is an ongoing process, and precise timelines cannot be provided. Completion of railway projects is subject to factors such as land acquisition, forest clearances, utility relocation, statutory clearances, geological and topographical conditions, and law and order, all of which influence both the completion time and project cost.
Key Entities Referenced
Loharu: A town and railway station mentioned as the starting point of a proposed new railway line.
Pilani: A town mentioned as the destination point of a proposed new railway line.
Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan: The district and state where the proposed railway line between Loharu and Pilani is located.
SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA: Member of Parliament who raised the question about the new railway line.
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS: The government ministry responsible for railways, headed by the Minister of Railways.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer to the question.
Railway Board: The apex body of the Indian Railways, responsible for overseeing its operations and development.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India involved in the appraisal of railway projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 683
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
NEW RAILWAY LINE FROM LOHARU TO PILANI
†683. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to lay a new railway line from
Loharu to Pilani in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the survey of the said railway line has also been
conducted by the Government in the past;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the survey of the said railway line has recently been
conducted by the Railway Board;
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(g) whether the Government has set any target for laying the railway
line after completing the survey of the said railway line and if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (g): Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal
Railway wise and not State-wise/Constituency wise as the Railway
…2/--:2:-
projects may span across State boundaries. Railway projects are
sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness, traffic projections, last
mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of
congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State Governments,
Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public
representatives, Railway’s own operational requirement, socio-
economic considerations, connectivity to tourism and industries etc.
depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall
availability of funds.
Final Location Survey (FLS) for Loharu – Pilani New Line (24 Km) has
been sanctioned for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). The
field survey has been completed.
The sanctioning of the project requires consultation with various stake-
holders including State Governments and necessary approvals viz.
appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc. As sanctioning of
projects is a continuous and dynamic process, exact timelines cannot
be fixed.
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick
land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of
forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances
from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of
area, law and order situation in the area of project/s site, number of
working months in a year for particular project site etc. All these
factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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