Lok Sabha Question No. 1865 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Pending Rail Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Gopal Chinayya Shetty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1865 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## PENDING RAIL PROJECTS

†1865.  SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the proposals related to new rail projects submitted by the States during the last three years as on date and the action taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  new/ongoing/pending  rail  projects  and  surveys  along with the status thereof, Project and State-wise;
- (c) the details of funds allocated/utilized so far in this regard, Projectwise;
- (d) whether there has been a steep increase in the cost of the projects on account of non-completion on time and if so, the number of noncompleted projects as on date along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the time limit prescribed for completion of the said projects?

## 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. 1865 BY SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING PENDING RAIL PROJECTS

(a): Proposals/suggestions/representations, both formal and informal regarding Railway projects are received from State Governments, Ministries of Central Government, Elected representatives, organizations/rail  users  etc.  by  Railways  at  various  levels  including Railway  Board,  Zonal  Railways,  Division  Office  etc.  As  receipt  of  such proposals/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained.  Survey for new lines, gauge  conversion  of  Meter  Gauge  lines  to  Broad  Gauge  and  feasibility study etc. is a continuous and ongoing process of Indian Railways and is done based on demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives and Railways' own requirement.

(b):  At  present 491 Railway projects including 189 New Lines, 55 Gauge Conversion and 247 Doubling Projects are in different stages of execution/planning/sanction. The total length of these projects is 48860.64 km costing ` 6.476 Lakh Crore. During the last three years and current year, Railways have taken up surveys for 272 nos. of railway projects (New Line, Gauge Conversion & Doubling works) for a total length of 26954 kms. (c): The expenditure on above mentioned 491 projects upto March, 2019 1.43 Lakh Crore. However, the details of funds spent on each project, allotment of funds and expenditure are made available in public domain  on  Indian  Railways  website  i.e.  www.indianrailways.gov.in    and are also available in works, machinery & rolling stock programmes (pink has been ` book) which are available on the website of Indian Railways.

(d)  &  (e):  The  timely  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 considerations, 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  affect  the completion  cost  of  the  project,  which  is  finally  worked  out  at  the completion stage.

In the overall interest of the Nation and to ensure that project 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.

For  important  project,  capacity  enhancement  projects,  last  mile connectivity etc. institutional financing has been done by arranging loan from M/s Life Insurance Corporation of India Limited for ` 1.5 lakh crore, which has increased Railways' capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects.

*****