Lok Sabha Question No. 499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Doubling of Railway Lines in Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.499 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## DOUBLING OF RAILWAY LINES IN GUJARAT

†499. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the works relating to doubling of railway lines being done at present across the country including Gujarat;
- (b) the  funds  allocated/released/utilized  for  doubling  of  railway  lines  in Gujarat  during  the  last  three  years  along  with  the  names  of  railway lines; and
- (c) the details of doubling of railway lines likely to be completed in Gujarat in the current financial year?

## 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. 499 BY SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  05.02.2020  REGARDING DOUBLING OF RAILWAY LINES IN GUJARAT (a): Presently, Indian Railways have taken up 255 Doubling Projects of 20,500 km  length  and  costing ` 2.32  lakh  crore,  which  are  in  different  stages  of execution/planning/sanction, out of which, commissioning of 2,784 km length has been achieved and expenditure of ` 48,342 crore has been incurred up to March, 2019. Above 255 Doubling Projects include 12 Doubling Projects of 907 km length and  costing ` 6524  crore,  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Gujarat.  Out  of which, commissioning of 131 km length has been achieved and expenditure of ` 2,656 crore has been incurred up to March, 2019. (b): The details of Railway projects including allotment of fund and expenditure,  project-wise  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). Average  Budget  allocation  (in  Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works)  has been enhanced to ` 3,327 crore per year (from 2014-15 to 2018-19) from `589 crore  per  year  (from  2009-10  to  2013-14).  The  average  budget  allocation during (2014-19) is 465% more as compared to average allocation of previous five years (2009-14). Total allocation of Budget for infrastructure projects & safety works falling 4803 crore which is 716%

fully/  partly  in  State  of      Gujarat,  in  2019-20  is ` more than the average of 2009-14.

(c):  The  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  vary  from  project  to  project  and  site  to  site.  Hence,  no confirmed time frame can be fixed for completion of projects.

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