Lok Sabha Question No. 4783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Unviable Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 4783 TO BE ANSWERED ON  24.03.2021

## UNVIABLE PROJECTS

4783. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways has long been marred by inefficient operations, slow infrastructure development and financially unviable projects;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(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. 4783 BY. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING UNVIABLE PROJECTS

- (a) to  (c):  A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  up  by  Indian  railways  to develop  infrastructure,  modernize  the  system  and  improve  operational efficiency by way of increasing Capital Expenditure (Capex), introduction of  technology,  partnership  with  stakeholders,  prioritization  of  projects, tome bound execution, innovation financing and outcome-oriented action. Major initiatives include the following:-
-  Annual Average Capex has been doubled from ₹ 45,974 Cr in 2009-14 to ₹ 99,512  Cr  in  2014-19.  In  Budget  Estimate  Capex  has  been further increased to ₹ 2.15 Lakh Crore.
-  Various  measures  have  been  taken  to  expedite  commissioning  of projects.  Assured  finance  through  extra  budgetary  resources  has been arranged for throughput enhancement works. Thrust has been on  paper  on  proper  project  preparation,  advance  land  acquisition, EPC contracts, mechanisation in construction and intensive project monitoring to increase pace of commissioning.
-  Pace of construction of New Lines, Doubling and Gauge Conversion has  been  increased  by  over  70%  from  1520  Km/year  in  209-14  to 2,625 Km in 2014-20.
-  Pace of Railway Electrification  has  been  increased  over  4.5  times from 608Km/year in 2009-14 to 2,737 Km  in 2014-20.  100% electrification of  Broad  Gauge  has  been  targeted  by  December 2023.
-  Speed of Freight Trains have been doubled in 2020-21 to 46 kmph from 23 kmph in earlier years.
-  All  Unmanned Level Crossings on Broad Gauge were eliminated in Jan 2019.
-  657 Km of Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) has been commissioned in 2020-21. Total 2843 km of DFCs is to be commissioned by June 2022.
-  Annual production of Safer LHB coach has been increased by more than 10 times from 555 in 2014-15 to 6,277 in 2019-20. Production of ICF coaches has been discontinued since April 2018.
-  Annual production of locomotives has been increased 3 times from 250 in 2014-15 to 784 in 2019-20.
-  Vande Bharat Express, Semi High-Speed trains with modern passenger amenities have been introduced between New Delhi and Varanasi between New Delhi and Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Station.
-  Indigenously manufactured 12000 HP Electric locomotivehave been introduced for freight movement.
-  Up  gradation  of  Delhi-Howrah  and  Delhi-Mumbai  to  160  kmph  has been taken up.
-  Up gradation of speed to 130kmph on all other Golden QuadrilateralGolden Diagonal (GQ/GD) routes taken up.
-  All North Eastern States have been connected with Railway network except Sikkim where work is in progress.
-  Wi-Fi has been provided in 5965 stations.
-  Real  Time  Information  System  (RTIS)  has  been  provided  in  2700 electric locomotives for real time tracking of trains.
-  Indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System(TCAS) has been introduced to minimise accidents due to human error.
-  3 New Dedicated Freight Corridors have been identified namely East Coast corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada, East - West Corridor from  Bhusawal  to  Kharagpur  to  Dankuni  and  North-South  corridor from Itarsi to Vijayawada.
-  Vision 2024 document has been prepared to develop infrastructure by  2024  to  enhance  model  share  of  Indian  railways  in  freight transportation. Capacity enhancement work like doubling/Multitracking have been prioritized into critical and Super Critical projects for time bound completion.
-  A National rail Plan (NRP) 2030 has been developed with a view to develop infrastructure by 2030 to cater to the traffic requirements upto 2050 and increase modal share of rail in freight to 45%.

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