Lok Sabha Question No. 4129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Fast Track Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## PRADHAN MANTRI FAST TRACK PROJECT

†4129. SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to complete the rail  projects  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Fast  Track  Project  with  the prescribed time-limit;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if  not,  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  complete  such important projects within the said time-limit?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (C): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4129 BY SHRI RODMAL NAGAR   TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA  ON  18.03.2020  REGARDING  PRADHAN  MANTRI  FAST  TRACK PROJECT

(a) to (c): Presently, 498 ongoing Railway Projects including 188 New Lines, 55 Gauge Conversion and 255 Doubling Projects of total length 49,069 Km, costing ` 6.75 lakh crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution.

In addition, under the Umbrella Work of 2019-20, 05 New Line works of 432 Km length costing ` 6,419 crore and 32 Doubling works of 4,555 Km length costing ` 47,841  crore  have  been  included  in  Budget  booklet  of  Financial Year 2020-21.

The project-wise detail including cost, expenditure and outlay 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) >Pink Book (year) >Railway-wise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme.

Though, every sanctioned project is very important for Nation, but to utilize the available resources in best possible manner to produce optimum social and  financial  gains  to  Nation,  the  projects  are  categorized  as  New  Line National  Projects,  last  mile  connectivity  projects,  executable  through  put enhancement Gauge Conversion projects and Super Critical/Critical /Doubling/3 rd  Line/Quadrupling projects etc. However, in Railways there is no scheme named Pradhan Mantri Fast Track Project with the prescribed timelimit.

Thorough review of throughput enhancement projects has been carried out and with focused  approach, the projects  have  been  prioritized  into  Super

Critical  Projects  (58  nos),  Critical  Projects  (68  nos.)  and  other  throughput enhancement projects (130 nos.).

As on 01.04.2019, the balance length of Super Critical Projects is 2,347 Km and  that  of  Critical  projects  is  5,676  Km.  All  out  sincere  and  focused approach is being adopted by Railway for quick execution of these projects.

For  the  financial  year  2020-21,  Budget  Outlay  has  been  proposed  to  the projects  which  are  in  advance  stage  of  completion,  important  new  line National Projects, executable & Important Gauge Conversion projects and the projects which are important from the throughput  enhancement considerations.  Thus,  the  focused  attention  is  given  in  fund  allotment, rather than thinly spreading the resources without fruitful results.

In  the  overall  interest  of  the  Nation  and  to  ensure  that,  projects  are completed in time without cost overrun, lot of monitoring is being 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.

For capacity enhancement projects, institutional financing has been arranged,  which  has  increased  Railways'  capacity  for  committed  fund provision for capacity enhancement projects.

## BUDGET ALLOCATION ON INDIAN RAILWAYS

Average  Annual  Budget  allotment  for  New  Line,  Gauge  Conversion  and Doubling  Projects  on  Indian  Railways,  during  2014-19  has  increased  to 11,527 crore (during 2009-14), which is 126% more as

` 26,026 crore, from ` compared to average allotment during 2009-14.

Total  Budget  Estimate  (BE)  Outlay  for  New  Line,  Gauge  Conversion  and Doubling  Projects  in  2019-20  was ` 30,198,  which  has  been  increased  to ` 38,803  in  Revised  Budget  Outlay.  This  is  237%  more  as  compared  to average annual budget allotment during 2009-14. ( ` 11,527)

## COMMISSIONING OF NEW LINE, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING

During 2009-14, 7599 km length (New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling) has been commissioned on Indian Railways. Further, during 2014-19, 13124 been commissioned on Indian Railways, which is 73% more than commissioning km length (New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling) has during 2009-14.

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 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. Hence, no due to climatic conditions, encountering unforeseen conditions confirmed time frame can be fixed for completion of projects at this stage.

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