Lok Sabha Question No. 2088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Doubling and Electrification in Assam
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal, Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2088 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## DOUBLING AND ELECTRIFICATION IN ASSAM

2088. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL: SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  works  relating  to  doubling/  electrification  of Railway Lines/Tracks in the State of Assam;
- (b) the funds allocated/released for doubling/ electrification of Railway Lines/Tracks in Assam during the last five years; and
- (c) the details of doubling/electrification work is likely to be completed?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (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. 2088 BY SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL AND SHRI  ABDUL  KHALEQUE  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 04.03.2020 REGARDING DOUBLING AND ELECTRIFICATION IN ASSAM

(a) to (c): Projects are not sanctioned State-wise. Projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise. However, presently 6 Doubling projects, covering a length of 483 km at a cost of ` 15,388 crore falling in Assam are  in  different  stages  of  planning/sanction/execution.  Out  of  which, commissioning of 20 km length has been achieved and an expenditure of ` 1298 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019.  A budget estimate outlay of ` 725 crore has been provided for 2019-20.

Presently, under Plan Head 'Railway Electrification', 10 electrification projects of 3,813 km length with costing of ` 4,599 crore falling fully/partly in Assam are in different stages of execution/planning.  Out  of  which,  commissioning  of  433  km  has  been achieved.

The  project-wise  details  of  allotment  of  funds  for  doubling  / electrification Railway projects in Assam during the last five years and current  year  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)  >Railway  wise  Works  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock Programme\_Regular Budget 2015-16/2016-17/2017-18/2019-20/2020-21.

Till  2013-14,  due  to  overall  limited  availability  of  funds,  most  of the projects were not progressing satisfactorily.  Since 2014-15, based on  physical  progress  of  projects,  last  mile  connectivity  projects  and projects for decongesting the existing routes have been given sufficient funds.  For this purpose, funds for capacity enhancement projects have been  arranged  through  institutional  financing  for  assured  funding  of viable  projects.  Thus,  there  is  no  constraint  of  funds  for  execution  of doubling / 3 rd  line / 4 th  line projects.

Budget  Allocation  (for  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  Assam  and  North Eastern Region):

Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety  works,  falling  fully/partly  in  Assam  and  North  Eastern  Region during 2014-19 has increased to ` 5,531 crore per year from ` 2122 crore per  year  during  2009-14.  Thus,  the  average  annual  budget  allocation during  2014-19  is  161%  more  than  average  annual  budget  allocation during 2009-14.

Total  allocation  of  Budget  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  Safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Assam and North Eastern States, in 2019-20 is ` 4909 crore which is 131% more than the average annual budget allocation of 2009-14 ( ` 2122 crore/year).

## Commissioning of projects:

During  2014-19,  total  1223  km  length  (231  km  New  Line,  972 Gauge Conversion and 20 km Doubling) have been commissioned in the State of Assam which is 267% more than commissioning during 2009-14 (333 km).

Thorough  review  of  throughput  enhancement  projects  has  been carried out and  with focused  approach,  the projects  have  been prioritized into Super Critical, Critical and other throughput enhancement projects.  All  out  sincere  and  focused  efforts  are  being made  by  Railway  for  quick  execution  of  these  projects  so  as  to  get early returns to Railway.

In  the  overall  interest  of  the  Nation  and  to  ensure  that  projects are completed in time without cost overrun, lot of monitoring is done in Railways at various levels (field level, Divisional level, Zonal level and Board level)  and  regular  meetings  are  held  with  the  officials  of  State Government and concerned authorities regarding quick land acquisition,  forestry  clearances,  tackling  law  and  order  issues  and  to resolve the pending  issues  that are obstructing the progress  of projects.

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 conditions, encountering unforeseen conditions like earthquake, flooding, excessive  rains,  strikes  of  labour,  orders  of  Hon'ble  Courts,  situation and  conditions  of  working  agencies/contractors  etc.  and  all  these factors differs from project to project and affects the completion time of the project. As such, firm completion time of the projects cannot be fixed at this stage.

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