Lok Sabha Question No. 4790 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Railway Projects in Uttarakhand
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4790 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN UTTARAKHAND

†4790.  SHRI AJAY BHATT :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various rail projects being implemented in Uttarakhand, project-wise along with the present status thereof;
- (b)   the  number  of  projects  lagging  behind  schedule  along  with  the reasons therefor;
- (c)   the  details  of  the  cost  overrun  of  the  delayed  projects,  the source of financing along with the time limit for completing these projects; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  complete  the  said projects on time ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(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.  4790  BY  SHRI  AJAY  BHATT  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.03.2021  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN UTTARAKHAND

(a):  The  Railway  projects are sanctioned zonal Railway wise and not State  wise,  as  the  Indian  Railways'  network  spans  across  various state boundaries.  However, as on 01.04.2020 total 04 projects (3 New lines  &  1  doubling)  of  total  length  243  km  costing ₹ 18,901  crore,  in Uttarakhand are in different stages of Planning/sanction/execution, out of which, commissioning of 23 km (6 km New line and 17 km Doubling) has been achieved and expenditure of ₹ 2,519 has been incurred upto March, 2020 on these projects.  These include:-

- (i)  3 New line projects of total length 216 km, costing ₹ 18,554 crore, out of which, commissioning of 6 km length has been achieved and an expenditure of ₹ 2,275 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020 on these projects.
- (ii)   1  Doubling  project of total length 27 km at a cost of ₹ 347 crore, out  of  which  17  km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure  of ₹ 244  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March,  2020. Further, this project has been fully commissioned in January, 2021 and  total  expenditure  of ₹ 304  crore  has  been  incurred  on  this project.

The  details    of  all  ongoing  projects  including  cost,  expenditure  and outlay 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)> Rail Budget/Pink Book (year)> Railway-wise Works, Machinery and Rolling Stock Programme (RSP).

(b) and (c):   Completion of any Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government,  forest clearance  by  officials  of  forest  department,  deposition  of  State  cost share by  concerned  State  government  in  cost  sharing  projects, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearance 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 etc. and all these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s, which is finally worked out after  completion  of  project/s.    As  such  confirmed  time  frame  for completion  of  project/s  and  completion  cost  of  project/s  cannot  be ascertained at this stage.

(d): Various steps being taken by the Railways for effective and speedy implementation of rail projects include (i) prioritisation of projects, (ii) substantial  increase  in  allocation  of  funds  on  priority  projects,  (iii) delegation of powers at field level, (iv) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels and (v) regular follow up with State Governments and concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition,  forestry  and  Wildlife  clearances  and  for  resolving  other issues pertaining to projects.

Average Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works, falling fully/partly in State of Uttarakhand during 2014-19, has increased  to ₹ 672  crore  per  year  from ₹ 187  crore  per  year  (during 2009-14),  which  is  259%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay  of 2009-14 and Budget outlay of ₹ 1780 crore was provided for financial year  2020-21,  which  is  852%  more  than  the  average  annual  budget outlay  of  2009-14.    For  financial  year  2021-22,  highest  ever  budget outlay of ₹ 4,432 crore has been proposed for these works, which is 2270%  more than average annual budget outlay of  2009-14.

During 2009-14, 84 Km of Gauge conversion has been commissioned in the State at an average rate 17 km per year.  During 2019-20, 23 km section (6 km New line and 17 km Doubling) has been commissioned, which is 35% more than average annual commissioning during 200914.

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