Lok Sabha Question No. 3498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Railway Projects in Bihar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Veena Devi, Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3498 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN BIHAR

3498.   SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  current  status  of  railway  projects  in  Bihar,  district/project-wise including  Jehanabad,  Gaya  and  Arwal  districts  for  which  survey  has been  conducted  and  approval  has  been  accorded  but  they  have  not been started as yet;
- (b)   the sanctioned budgetary allocation for the same; and
- (c)   the steps taken/being taken by the Government to speed up the work of approved railway projects in Bihar?

## 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. 3498 BY SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI AND SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  17.03.2021  REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN BIHAR

(a)  and  (b):  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise  and  not State-wise/distrtict-wise as Indian Railways' network spans across various State boundaries.  However, as on 01.04.2020, 57 projects (35 new lines, 05 gauge conversions and 17 doublings), costing ₹ 74,880 crore, covering a length of 5267 Km, falling fully/partly in the State of Bihar are in different stages  of  planning/sanction/execution,  out  of  which  1306  Km  length  has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 22,123 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020.

Since 2014-15, 17 projects of 1180 Km length costing ₹ 13,259 crore, falling fully/partly  in  Bihar,  have  been  completed  and  commissioned  and  also, during  this  period  18  projects  of  1,412  Km  length  costing ₹ 16,833 crore, falling fully/partly in Bihar, have been included in Budget.

Average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  and  safety  works, falling  fully/  partly  in  State  of  Bihar  during  2014-19,  has  increased  to ₹ 3,061 crore per year from ₹ 1,132 crore per year (during 2009-14), which is 170%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay  of  2009-14  and  budget outlay  of ₹ 4,489  crore  was  provided  for  financial  year  2020-21  which  is 297%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay  of  2009-14.  For  financial year 2021-22, highest-ever budget outlay of ₹ 5150 crore has been provided for these works which is 355% more with respect to average budget outlay of 2009-14.

Contd…..2/-

During  2014-19,  695  Km  length  (240  Km  New  Lines,  280  Km  Gauge Conversion and 175 Km Doubling) projects falling fully/partly in the State of Bihar has been commissioned which is 119% more than the commissioning during  2009-14  (318  Km).  During  2019-20,  231  Km  length  (64  Km  New Lines, 45 Km  Gauge  Conversion and 122 Km  Doubling) has been commissioned  which  is  261%  more  than  average  commissioning  during 2009-14 (63.6 Km/year).

Project-wise  detail  including  cost,  expenditure  incurred  and  outlay  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)  >  Pink Book (Year) > Railway-wise Works, Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme (RSP) .

(c): Various steps being taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation  of  rail  projects  include  (i)  prioritisation  of  projects,  (ii) substantial  increase  in  allocation  of  funds,  (iii)  delegation  of  powers  at field level, (iv) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels (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.

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