Lok Sabha Question No. 3465 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Ongoing/Pending Rail Projects in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Gomati Sai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3465 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

ONGOING/PENDING RAIL PROJECTS IN CHHATTISGARH

†3465. SHRIMATI GOMATI SAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to State:

- (a)  the  project-wise details of various ongoing and pending rail projects in Chhattisgarh along with its present status;
- (b) the number of rail projects running behind the stipulated timeperiod along with the details thereof;
- (c)  the  names  of  such  approved/ongoing  projects  in  the  said State which are likely to be completed or started during the year 2020-21;
- (d)  the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  expedite completion of these projects; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  approved  Raipur-SarangarhJharsuguda rail projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(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 UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.3465  BY  SHRIMATI  GOMATI  SAI  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.03.2021 REGARDING ONGOING/PENDING RAIL PROJECTS IN CHHATTISGARH (a) Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railways and not State wise as  Indian  Railway's  network  span  across  various  State  boundaries. However,  presently,  18  Projects  of  total  length  2900  km  costing ₹ 42,083 crore falling fully/partly in the State of Chhattisgarh are under different  stage  of  planning/approval/execution,  out  of  which  527  km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 9344 crore has been incurred upto March 2020. Chhattisgarh is covered by South East Central Railway and East Coast Railway Zone of Indian Railways. Details of projects including expenditure and Budget outlay project-wise on each project are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in>Ministry of Railways >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance (Budget) >Regular Budget/Pink Book(year) Railway wise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme. During 2014-19, 416 Km sections (42 km of New line and 374 km of Doubling) falling fully/partly in Chhattisgarh have been commissioned  ( average rate 83 km per year), which is 1200% more with respect to commissioning  during  2009-14  (32  km).    During  2019-20,  103  Km sections (43 km of New line and 60 km of Doubling) falling fully/partly in Chhattisgarh have been commissioned in the state which is 1617% more w.r.t. to average commissioning during 2009-14 ( 6 km per year).

...…..2/-

During  2014-19  Average  annual  Budget  allocation  on  Infrastructure projects  &  safety  works  falling  fully/partly  in  Chhattisgarh  State  has been  enhanced  to ₹ 2,274  crore  per  year    from ₹ 311  crore  per  year during 2009-14, which is 631%  more  as compared  to average allocation during 2009-14. Total allocation of Budget for these projects in  2019-20  has  been  increased  to ₹ 3269 crore,  which  is  951%  more than  the  average  of  2009-14.  Allocation  for  these  works,  in  2020-21 has been increased to ₹ 3845 crore which is the highest ever budget and 1136% more with respect to average of 2009-14.

- (b)  &  (c)  The  timely  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 site, number of working months in a year for particular project site  due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.  and  all  these  factors  affect  the completion time of the project/s. As such, no confirmed time frame for completion  of  project/s  can  be  ascertained  at  this  stage.  However, Railway  is making  all  the efforts  for  expeditious  completion  of projects.
- (d) Various steps taken by the Indian Railway for expeditious implementation of Rail projects include (i) prioritisation of projects  (ii) substantial  increase  in  allocation  of  funds  on  priority  projects  (iii) delegation of powers at field level (iv) close monitoring of progress of …..3/-

project at various levels and (v) regular follow up with State Governments and concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition,  forestry  and  Wildlife  clearances  and  for  resolving  other issues pertaining to projects.

(e) The work of Raipur-Sarangarh-Jharsuguda new line was included in Budget 2013-14 subject to requisite approvals. State Govt. of Chhattisgarh  and  Odisha  were  approached  for  providing  land  free  of cost and to share 50% cost of work. As no response has been received from both State Governments, the project could not be taken forward. However, on suggested alignment, project of Durg-New Raipur-Kharsia new line has been identified by Chhattisgarh Rail Corporation Ltd.(CRCL)  State  Joint  Venture    of  Government  of  Chhattisgarh  for feasibility study.

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