Lok Sabha Question No. 5282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Railway Projects in Karnataka
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, B.N. CHANDRAPPA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, PRATHAP SIMHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA

5282.  SHRI D.K. SURESH:

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken up various railway projects such as  new  railway  lines,  doubling  of  tracks,  gauge  conversion,  new trains and upgradation/modernization of some railway stations in the country including Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said new railway line projects and upgradation works have been completed/are being completed as per the time-schedule and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  and the measures being taken to meet the deadline or early completion of the said works?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  5282  BY  SHRI  D.K.  SURESH,  SHRI  NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA, KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH AND SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  05.04.2017  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA

- (a)  &  (b):    As  on  01.04.2016,  there  are  458  ongoing  projects  across  the country  consisting  of  166  New  Line,  39  Gauge  Conversion  and  253 Doubling.  Out  of  these  458  projects,  33  projects  consisting  of  17  New Line, 1 Gauge Conversion and 15 Doubling fall fully/partly in the State of Karnataka. Similarly, 79 new trains have been introduced in the country and  5  of  them  were  introduced  in  the  State  of  Karnataka.  It  has  been planned  to  offer  'A-1'  and  'A'  category  stations  (about  400  stations)  on Indian Railways, including 20 such stations in Karnataka for redevelopment,  on  'as  is  where  is'  basis,  by  inviting  open  bids  from interested parties with their designs and business ideas duly providing for amenities  and  other  requirements  of  the  Railways.    The  entire  cost  of station redevelopment is to be met by leveraging commercial development  of  land  and  air  space  in  and  around  stations.    Bids  for redevelopment  of  23  stations,  including  two  stations,  viz.  Yashwantpur and Bangalore Cantt. in Karnataka, have been invited in the first phase.
- (c):     Execution of railway project faces impediments like acquisition of land, statutory clearances like forestry and wild life clearances, shifting of services, cutting of trees, construction of road over bridges and road under  bridges  by  road  maintaining  agencies,  availability  of  funds,  etc. Several of these clearances and assistance from other departments are beyond  the  control  of  Railways.    Further,  Railways  has  a  large  shelf  of

ongoing  projects  with  limited overall availability of funds  for their execution.  As a result, funds are thinly spread out thus prolonging the period  of  completion  of  most  of  the  projects.  Moreover,  targets  for completion of projects are set on yearly basis and funds to each project are allocated every year depending on the total budget outlay, progress made in each project & relative priority.  Therefore, it will not be feasible to fix time lines for completion of all these projects.

(d): Railways is working on the alternative means of funding to accelerate project execution as detailed below:-

- (i) Initiative  for  formation  of  Joint  Venture  Company  with  State Governments which makes the States a partner in growth of railway infrastructure in the States.
- (ii) Institutional financing by tying up loan with M/s Life Insurance Corporation  of  India  Limited  for  assured  funding  of  viable projects has increased Railways' capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects.
- (iii) Requesting State Government  for cost sharing alongwith provision of free land & other concessions,
- (iv) Encouraging PPP (Public Private Partnership).

To reduce delays on account of land acquisition, security issues and forestry  clearances  etc,  meetings  with  State  Government  officials  and Ministry of Environment & Forests at various levels are held from time to time.

Field  units  have  been empowered with further delegation of powers to sanction estimates and award contracts.

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