Lok Sabha Question No. 2256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Third Railway Line betweenVijayawada to Gudur
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adala Prabhakara Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2256 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## THIRD RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN VIJAYAWADA TO GUDUR

2256.  SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has taken up third railway line from Vijayawada to Gudur and if so, the  progress of the project and the time by which it is likely to be completed;
- (b) whether there has been criticism on sub-contracting works on this project and comprising on the quality of the works;
- (c) if so, the remedial measures being taken in this regard;
- (d) the allocation of funds for this project till now; and
- (e) the time by which this railway line is likely to be completed and the facilities that would accrue to the passengers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (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 UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.2256  BY  SHRI  ADALA  PRABHAKARA  REDDY  TO  BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.03.2020  REGARDING  THIRD  RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN VIJAYAWADA TO GUDUR

(a) The third line project between Vijayawada to Gudur of 287 Km has been sanctioned in 2017. Anticipated cost of the project is ₹ 3246 crore. So far, an expenditure of ₹ 1385 crore has been incurred on this project.

The project involve land acquisition of private land; 32.74 acres, Government  Land:  6.40  acres  and  forest  land  of  1.23  acres.  The  land acquisition has been taken up by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Work has been taken up in available land.

(b) No, Sir.

(c) Does not arise.

(d) So far, an expenditure of ₹ 1385 crore has been incurred on this project.

Budget Allocation:

Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  safety works,  falling  fully/partly  in  Andhra  Pradesh  during  2014-19  has  been enhanced to 2830 crore per year during 2014-2019 from ₹ 886 crore per year during 2009-14 which is 319% of 2009-14.

Total allocation of Budget for Infrastructure projects & safety works falling fully/ partly in State of Andhra Pradesh, in 2019-20 is 3885 crore which is 438% of  the average annual allocation of 2009-14.

Commissioning of projects:

During 2009-14, 363 Km (81 Km of New line, 144 Km of Gauge Conversion and 138 Km of Doubling projects) have been commissioned in the state at an average rate 72.6 km per year.

In 2014-19, 377 Km (258 Km of New Line and 119 Km of Doubling projects) have been commissioned in the state at an average rate 75.3 Km per year. Thus, the commissioning  during 2014-19 was 104% of 2009-14.

For early execution of projects, State Government should ensure depositing their share in time to Railways for cost sharing projects. Presently for all cost sharing projects with Government of Andhra Pradesh, around ₹ 1411 crore is outstanding towards State Government share. This amount should be deposited by State Government to Railway quickly.

(e) 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, cooperation and zeal of State Government for early completion  of project, 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 and affect the completion time and cost of the project. Hence, the firm time line cannot be given at this stage.

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