Lok Sabha Question No. 156 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Ongoing Rail Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA, REKHA ARUN VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.156 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## ONGOING RAIL PROJECTS

†*156  SHRI  AJAY MISRA TENI: SHRIMATI  REKHA VERMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of ongoing rail projects in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra;
- (b) whether all the ongoing rail projects are being completed within the fixed time-frame and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not,  the reasons identified for non-completion of these projects within a fixed time-frame;
- (d) whether new rail projects have been started in the above States and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  remedial  action  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  for  speedy  and timely implementation of the said projects in both the States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

- (a) to (e) :  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.156 BY SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI AND  SHRIMATI  REKHA VERMA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  26.07.2017  REGARDING ONGOING RAIL PROJECTS

(a):    15  new  lines,  9  Gauge  Conversion,  49  doubling  projects  falling fully/partially  in  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  are  in  different  stages  of implementation.  12 new lines, 4 Gauge Conversion, 19 doubling projects falling fully/partially in the State of Maharashtra are in different stages of implementation.

(b) & (c):  Every railway project requires a number of clearances from various Ministries and Departments of State/Central Governments. These, inter-alia, include clearances inherent to land acquisition, forestry clearance and permission for road and canal crossings and also clearances from Archaeological Survey of India if the alignment passes in vicinity  of  a  protected  monument,  local  bodies  for  projects  passing through urban areas, etc which are part of project execution. Process of seeking  the  approvals/clearances  causes  delay  in  completion  of  the projects. Further, Budget allotments for the projects are done on yearly basis.  These factors are beyond the control of Ministry of Railways.

(d) :  (i)  The following new rail projects falling fully/partially in the State of    Uttar  Pardesh    have  been  included  in  Budget  2017-18  subject  to requisite approvals:

|   S. No. | Plan Head        | Project                                                                          | Length of project   |
|----------|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | New Line         | Robertsganj-Mugalsarai via Madhupur, Sukrit, Ahrora                              | 70 km               |
|        2 | New Line         | Padrauna-Kushinagar via Gorakhpur                                                | 64 km               |
|        3 | New Line         | Etah-Kasganj                                                                     | 29 km               |
|        4 | Gauge Conversion | Mathura - Vrindavan                                                              | 11 km               |
|        5 | Gauge Conversion | Pilibhit-Shahjahanpur                                                            | 83 km               |
|        6 | Gauge Conversion | Nanpara-Nepalganj Road                                                           | 20 km               |
|        7 | Doubling         | Naini-Chheoki 3 rd line with additional platform                                 | 2 km                |
|        8 | Doubling         | Malhaur-Daliganj doubling with electrification                                   | 12.62 km            |
|        9 | Doubling         | Barabanki-Malhaur -3 rd and 4 th line                                            | 32.84 km            |
|       10 | Doubling         | Varanasi-Mughalsarai - 3 rd line                                                 | 16.72 km            |
|       11 | Doubling         | Jaunpur Jn.-Janpur City- Chord line                                              | 2.2 km              |
|       12 | Doubling         | Janghai-Phaphamau -doubling with electrification                                 | 46.79 km            |
|       13 | Doubling         | Bhapur-Panki- 4 th line connecting down loop of Baupur to shunting neck of Panki | 11 km               |
|       14 | Doubling         | Construction of Kanpur Fly-over                                                  | 30 km               |

Summary: New line- 163 km

Doubling- 154.17 km

Gauge Conversion- 114km.

- (ii)    The  following  new  rail  projects  falling  fully/partially  in  the  State  of Maharashtra  have been included in Budget 2017-18 subject to requisite approvals:

|   S. No | Plan Head   | Project                 | Length of project   |
|---------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
|       1 | New Line    | Hatkanagale-Ichalkaraji | 8 km                |
|       2 | New Line    | Jeur-Asthi              | 78 km               |
|       3 | New Line    | Phaltan-Pandharpur      | 105 km              |

Summary: New line- 191 km

(e): Indian Railways have taken various initiatives to increase the pace of execution of projects. This includes-

-  Indian  Railways  has  sanctioned  about  12,600  Km  of  Doubling/3 rd & 4 th   line  to  overcome  the  problem  of  congestion  over  high  density network in the last three years i.e. 2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18.
-  Making higher fund allotment for projects. The capital expenditure for  Railways  has  been  increased  from 58,718  Cr  in  2014-15  to around 93,795 Cr in 2015-16 to 1,11,661 crore in 2016-17 and a plan size of 1,31,000 crore has been kept for 2017-18.

….4\-

-  Delegation of Powers to the field officers for tenders and estimates: The Zonal Railways have been delegated full powers with respect to  works  contracts.  Full  powers  have  been    given    to    General Managers of Zonal Railways with respect to sanctioning of estimates. This has also resulted in cutting down time for sanction of estimate and tenders.
-  Institutional  financing  by  tying  up  loan  with  M/s  Life  Insurance Corporation of India Limited for 1.5 lac crore for assured funding of  viable  projects  has  increased  Railways' capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects.
-  Coordination with State/Central Ministries: To expedite the project execution  and  better  coordination  with  State/Central  Ministries, regular coordination meetings  are being held with Ministries/ Departments  /  State  Government  Authorities.  A  senior  Railway officer  has  been  nominated  as  a  Nodal  officer  to  deal  with  each State Government.

With  these  initiatives,  656  km  New  Lines/  Gauge  Conversion/ Doubling have been commissioned by introduction of passenger services in the State of Uttar Pradesh during the last three years (2014-15 to 201617).    Similarly,  222  km  of  New  Lines/  Gauge  Conversion/  Doubling  have been commissioned by introduction of passenger services in the State of Maharashtra during the last three years (2014-15 to 2016-17).

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