Lok Sabha Question No. 420 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Wadsa-Gadchiroli Rail Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.420

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## WADSA-GADCHIROLI RAIL NETWORK

- †*420. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  in  the  2011-12  Budget  of  his  Ministry,  a  provision  was made for connecting Gadchiroli, a district headquarters in the tribal dominated  and  the  most  backward  area  in  Maharashtra  with Wadsa-Gadchiroli rail network;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  construction  of  the  Wadsa-Gadchiroli  railway  line  has commenced;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons for delay therein along with the time by which the said construction work  is likely  to  be  commenced  and completed?

## 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  STARRED QUESTION NO.420 BY SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.03.2021  REGARDING  WADSA-GADCHIROLI  RAIL NETWORK (a) and (b)  Yes, Sir. Wadsa-Gadchiroli (52.36 km) new rail line project was included in Pink Book 2011-12 at an abstract cost of ₹ 229 crore.  Project is on cost sharing basis,  Government of Maharashtra has to share 50% cost of the  project.  Anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ₹ 1096  crore,  so  far,  an expenditure of ₹ 42.07 crore has been incurred on the project and an outlay of ₹ 11 crore has been proposed for this project for financial year 2021-22. Land acquisition, forestry and Wild Life clearances for the project has been taken up. Project involve  acquisition of 133.73 hectare  revenue land and forestry  clearance  of  71.72  hectare  forest  land.  So  far,  13.13  hectare revenue  land  (Government  land)  only  has  been  handed  over  and  land acquisition  of  balance  120.60  hectare  (90%)  revenue  land  is  pending.  Inprincipal  approval  of  71.72  hectare  land  was  granted  in  April  2019  but Stage-II approval and working permission is still awaited. There is an extra ordinary  delay  in  granting  forestry  clearance  for  the  project.  State  Forest Department  in  consultation  with    Wildlife  Institute  of  India  (WII)  and National  Tiger  Conservation  Agency  (NTCA)  has  suggested  expensive mitigation  measures,  due  to  which    cost  of  project  has  increased  from ₹ 860.92 crore to ₹ 1096 crore. Since  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  to  share  50%  cost  of  project, therefore,  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  been  requested  to  confirm sharing of 50% of revised cost of project (Total revised cost ₹ 1096 crore). Confirmation of State Government is awaited. 10 Cr towards their

So far Government of Maharashtra has deposited only ₹ share in the project.

Railway projects in Maharashtra are getting delayed on account of pending land acquisition and non deposition of State share in cost sharing project by Government of Maharashtra. Details are below:

- i. 04 New Line projects of total length 661 km costing ₹ 9305 crore are suffering  due  to  non  acquisition  of  929  hectare  revenue  land  and forestry  clearance  of  173  hectare  forest  land  and      01  Gauge Conversion project name Ratlam-Mhow-Akola-Khandwa of total length 496 km costing ₹ 5411 crore is suffering as State Board of Wild Life, Maharashtra  is  not  forwarding  Wild  Life  Clearance  proposal  of  32 hectare forest land in Melghat Tiger Reserve falling in Amalkhurd-Akot section of the project to National Board of Wild Life (NBWL). Similarly, 12 Doubling projects of total length 2057 km costing ₹ 18511 crore are suffering  due  to  non-acquisition  of  424  hectare  revenue  land  and forestry clearance of 53 hectare forest land.
- ii. Total ₹ 549 crore is outstanding against Government of Maharashtra in 3 cost sharing new line projects (Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli : ₹ 348 crore, Wardha-Nanded: ₹ 190 crore, Wardha-Gadchiroli: ₹ 10.81 crore).
3. (c)  and  (d)  Railway  has  completed  Wadsa-Yard  remodeling  work  in  July, 2017,  further  work  would  be  taken  up  only  after  getting  confirmation  of State  Government of Maharashtra for sharing 50% revised cost of project and after handing over of requisite encumbrance free land to Railways by Government of Maharashtra.
4. (e) The timely completion of Railway project 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.  As  such,  no  confirmed time    frame  for  completion  of  project  can  be  ascertained  at  this  stage. However,  Railway  is  making  all  the  efforts  for  expeditious  completion  of projects. Average  annual  budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety works,  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra,  during  2014-19  has increased to ₹ 4801 crore  per year from ₹ 1171 crore per year during 200914. Thus, an increase of 310% over the average annual budget allocation of 2009-14. For financial year 2021-22 budget outlay of ₹ 7107 crore has been proposed  for  these  projects,  which  is  507%  more  than  average  annual outlay during 2009-14. During    2014-19,  596  Km  project  length  (87  Km  New  Line,  92  Gauge Conversion  and  417  Km  Doubling)  falling  fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra  have  been  commissioned,  which  is  104%  more  than  total commissioning during 2009-14 (292 km). In 2019-20, 183 km project length (183 km Doubling) falling fully/partly in Maharashtra have been commissioned,  which  is  213%  more  than  average  annual  commissioning during 2009-14(58.4 km/year).

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