Lok Sabha Question No. 2850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Aurangabad-Bihta Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mahabali Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2850 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## AURANGABAD-BIHTA RAIL LINE

† 2850.  SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of Aurangabad-Bihta rail line;
- (b) whether  only  Rs.  25  crore  have  been  allocated  for  the  said project in the interim budget whereas its estimated cost is Rs. 3500 crore and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which the said project is likely to be completed; and
- (d) the effective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2850 BY SHRI MAHABALI SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.7.2019 REGARDING AURANGABADBIHTA RAIL LINE.

(a) to  (d):    Bihta-Aurangabad  new  line  project  was  sanctioned  in 2007-08 at an abstract cost of ₹ 326.20 crore. Part detailed estimate of ₹ 64.59  crore  for  land  acquisition  on  Bihta-Paliganj  (28  Km)  was sanctioned on 30.10.2007. Subsequently,  while examining the revised Detailed  Estimate  of  the  project  amounting  to ₹ 2995  Cr.,  it  was decided to keep the execution of Bihta-Aurangabad new line project on hold in view of available routes in adjoining areas and low capacity utilization  of  existing  parallel  route  i.e.  Ara-Sasaram  new  line  and Patna-Gaya doubling. ₹ 25 Cr. has been allotted for the said project in the interim budget 2019-20.

As the execution of work depends upon viability of the project, therefore, an updating survey has been taken up to see its viability in view of upcoming industrial, educational institutions and new airport in the vicinity of this project.

The timely 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 & over ground), statutory clearances from various authorities, geological & topographical conditions of area, law & order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in  a  year  for  particular  project  site  due  to  climatic  considerations, 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  affects  the  completion  cost  of  the  project,  which  is  finally worked out at the completion stage.

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 to resolve the pending issues that are obstructing the progress of projects.

To ensure that projects are completed even before time, Railway has adopted the concept of incentives to the contractor in the form of bonus  clause  in  contracts  which  will  further  enhance  the  pace  of execution of projects.

For important projects, capacity enhancement projects, last mile connectivity  etc.  institutional  financing  has  been  done  by  arranging loan of ₹ 1.5 lakh crore, which has increased Railways'  capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects.

Since complete encumbrance free land has still not been handed over  by  State  Government  to  the  Railways,  therefore,  no  confirmed time frame can be fixed for completion of projects at this stage.

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