Lok Sabha Question No. 3624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Yelahanka to Penukonda Doubling Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3624 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## YELAHANKA TO PENUKONDA DOUBLING RAILWAY LINE

3624. SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to initiate steps for completion of Yelahanka to Penukonda doubling Railway line work as a special case by meeting the total expenditure to be incurred as the revenue position of the State to meet its contribution is critical; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) AND  (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3624 BY  SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.03.2021 REGARDING YELAHANKA TO PENUKONDA DOUBLING RAILWAY LINE

(a) and (b): Yelahanka - Penukonda (120 km) doubling project was included in the Budget 2015-16. Anticipated cost of the project is ` 1,147 crore. So far,  72  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 912 crore has been incurred on the project. An outlay of ` 160 crore has been proposed in the Budget 2021-22.

Project falls in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh State. Government of Andhra  Pradesh  in  April,  2015  has  consented  to  share  50%  cost  of  the project  falling  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and  accordingly ` 50 crore was deposited by them in 2016-17 against their share of ` 200 crore. Further  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  not  released  balance  funds despite  several  reminders.  Finally  in  2019-20,  Government  of  Andhra Pradesh stated that the State Government will no longer be able to share the  cost  of  this  doubling  and  electrification  projects  in  view  of  limited financial resources of the State Government. The change in the policy of Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  is  severely  affecting  the  execution  of projects  in  Andhra  Pradesh  which  have  been  taken  up  through  cost sharing.    Since,  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  shown  inability  to continue  with  further  cost  sharing  of  the  project,  therefore  Ministry  of Railways has now decided to execute this capacity enhancement doubling project by its own funding.

Average annual budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh, during 2014-19 has increased to ` 2,830 crore per year from ` 886 crore per year (during 2009-14) i.e.  an  increase  of  219%.    Budget  allotment  for  these  projects for  financial year 2019-20 was ` 3,885 crore, which is 338% more w.r.t. 2009-14. Budget allocation  of ` 4,910  crore  has  been  provided  for  Financial  Year  2020-21, which  is  454%  more  with  respect  to  average  Budget  outlay  for  2009-14. Budget allocation (proposed) has further increased to ` 5,812 crore in financial year 2021-22 (556% more with respect to average of 2009-14).

During 2009-14, 363 Km project length (81 Km New line, 144 Km Gauge Conversion and 138 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly in Andhra Pradesh was commissioned at an average rate of 72.6 km per year.  During 2014-19, 377 Km project length (258 Km New Line and 119 Km Doubling projects) falling fully/partly  in  Andhra  Pradesh  have  been commissioned  at an average rate 75.3  Km  per  year  against  72.6  km/year  for  2009-14.  In  2019-20,  207  Km project length (60 Km New Line and 147 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly in Andhra Pradesh have been commissioned, which is 185% more than average commissioning during 2009-14.

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