Lok Sabha Question No. 681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Choudhary, Sanjay Seth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 681 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## RAILWAY PROJECTS

681.  SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:
2. SHRI SANJAY SETH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  Rail  projects  including  Rail  Over  Bridges  (ROBs) implemented/constructed  and  pending  in Jharkhand  including Giridih during the last three years and the current year;
- (b)  the details of funds allocated and utilised on the said project;
- (c)  the number of new rail lines laid or progressive related works done thereto in Jharkhand during the last five years;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  expedite  the completion of the said projects or conducted review thereof; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 681 BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY AND SHRI SANJAY SETH  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  05.02.2020  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS (a)  to  (e):  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway-wise,  not  State-wise. However, at present, Railways have taken up 30 railway projects (14 New line, 16 Doubling)  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand  under  jurisdiction  of  East Central  Railway,  Eastern  Railway  and  South  Eastern  Railway,  costing ₹ 40020 crore, for 2607 km length, comprising 14 New Line projects having length of 1463 Km with aggregate cost of ₹ 25,535 crore and 16 Doubling projects having 1145 Km with aggregate cost of ₹ 14485 crore. All these  projects  are  under  different stages of planning/approval/execution. Out of above projects, 10 projects (5 new line projects having length of 299 Km with aggregate cost of ₹ 6,470 crore and 5 doubling projects having length of 202 Km with aggregate cost of ₹ 3,339 crore) have been included in last three years (2016-2019) and current financial year. During 2014-19, annual Budget outlay for infrastructure projects & safety works falling fully/partly in the state of Jharkhand is ₹ 2089 Cr. which is 457% of average annual outlay of 2009-14 ( ₹ 457 Crore). During  2019-20,  Budget  outlay  for  infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works  falling fully/partly in the state of Jharkhand is ₹ 2493 Cr. which is 546% of average annual outlay of 2009-14( ₹ 457 Crore). During  2014-19,  commissioning  of  690  Km  (402  Km  New  Line  and  288  Km  of Doubling  projects)  have  been  achieved  in  the  state  at  an  average  rate  of  138 Km/year, which is 240% of commissioning during 2009-14. Recently, in Giridih area of Jharkhand, one new line project i.e. Koderma-Giridih has been completed and commissioned and one new line project i.e. ParasnathMadhuban-Giridih (49 Km) costing ₹ 903 Cr.  has also been taken up. Total 17 Nos. of Road over Bridges (ROBs) have been sanctioned on cost sharing with the State Govt. of Jharkhand during the last three years. During 2019-20, 41 Nos.  of  Road  over  Bridges  (ROBs)  have  been  sanctioned  in  Jharkhand.  Out  of these,  3  Nos.  of  ROBs  have  been  fully  completed.  Railway  portion  of  3  Nos.  of

ROBs have been completed and works have been taken up on 35 Nos. of ROBs.

Details of projects including funds allotted/utilized are 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).

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 varies project to project and site to site and affect the completion time and cost of the project.

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 obstructing the  progress  of  projects.  Besides,  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 arranged, which has increased Railways' capacity for committed fund provision for capacity enhancement projects.

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