Lok Sabha Question No. 498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Railway Projects in North East States
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 498 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.11.2019

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN NORTH EAST STATES

498.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of railway projects in North East States, particularly in Assam are running behind schedule of completion;
- (b) if so, the details of such projects and the reasons for delay; and
- (c) the time by which these projects are likely to be completed to avoid further cost escalation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 498 BY SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK  SABHA  ON  20.11.2019  REGARDING  RAILWAY  PROJECTS  IN  NORTH EAST STATES

(a) & (b): Presently, 20 projects costing ` 73,214 crore for 1,786 km length falling fully / partly in Assam and North Eastern Region are under different stage of  planning/  approval/  execution  -  14  New  Line  projects  covering  a length  of  1,302  km  at  a  cost  of ` 57,826  crore  and  6  Doubling  projects covering a length of 483 km at a cost of ` 15,388 crore.

Projects in North Eastern Region were previously suffering mainly on account  of  shortage  of  funds  but  during  2014-19,  execution  of  projects have been speeded up and more fund allocations have been made for the projects. Following projects have been completed and commissioned from 2015 onwards in North Eastern Region:

- (1) Harmuti-Naharlagun  new  line  (21.75  km)  project  commissioned  in 2015.
- (2) Rangiya-Murkongselek Gauge Conversion (505 km) project commissioned in 2015.
- (3) Lumding-Silchar  Gauge  Conversion  (421  km)  project  commissioned in 2015.
- (4) Kumarghat-Agartala  new  line  (109  km)  project  commissioned  in 2016.
- (5) Bhairabi-Sairang Gauge Conversion (51.38 km) project commissioned in 2016.
- (6) Bogibeel Bridge with linking lines new line (73 km) project commissioned in 2018.
- (7) Agartala-Sabroom new line (112 km) project commissioned in 2019.
- (8) Hojai-Lumding doubling (44.92 km) project commissioned in 2019.

(c): The  timely  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on  various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by  officials  of  forest  department,  shifting  of  infringing  utilities  (both underground and over ground), statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for  particular  project  site  due  to  climatic  considerations,  encountering unforeseen conditions like earthquake, flooding, excessive rains, strikes of  labour,  orders  of  Hon'ble  Courts,  situation  and  conditions  of  working agencies/contractors  etc.    All  these  factors  vary  project  to  project  and site  to  site  which  affect  the  completion  time  and  cost  of  the  project, which is finally worked out at the completion stage.  As such, confirmed completion  time  for  remaining  projects  cannot  be  fixed  at  this  stage, nevertheless,  every  effort  is  being  made  to  commission  the  projects quickly.

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