Lok Sabha Question No. 341 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Gauge Conversion Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 341 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## GAUGE CONVERSION PROJECT

- *341. SHRI P. RAVEENDRANATH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  implemented  gauge  conversion project  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  particularly  Madurai  to Bodinayakkanur line;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  present  status  of  the  said project;
- (c) whether the  Government is concerned that due  to delay in  the implementation of gauge conversion project,  there has been or could be a cost escalation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action 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 STARRED QUESTION  NO.  341  BY  SHRI  P.  RAVEENDRANATH  KUMAR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.07.2019 REGARDING GAUGE CONVERSION PROJECT

(a)  to  (d):    Yes,  Sir.  05  Gauge  Conversion  projects  including  MaduraiBodinayakkanur gauge conversion project covering a length of 700 Km, in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  are  in  different  stages  of  execution,  out  of which,  573  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  work  taken  up  in balance 127 Km length.

Madurai-Bodinayakkanur gauge conversion project (90.41 Km) was sanctioned in 2008-09 and the latest anticipated cost of the project is ` 450 crore. An expenditure of ` 101.11 crore has been incurred on this project upto March, 2019 and an outlay of ` 100 crore has been proposed for the Financial Year 2019-20. Works on this project have been taken up in entire length.

The timely completion of any Railway project depends on various factors  like  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 considerations, encountering unforeseen conditions like  earthquake,  flooding,  excessive  rains,  cyclones,  strikes  of  labour, orders of Hon'ble Courts, situation conditions of working agencies/contractors  etc.,  all  these  factors  affect  the  completion  time and 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.

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