Lok Sabha Question No. 5214 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Doubling of Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5214 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2019

## DOUBLING OF TRACKS

## 5214. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  doubling works  of tracks of Birur-Shimoga, ArasikereTumkur, Hubli-Vasco and Hubli-Chikjajur have not yet been completed;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  contingent  plan  to complete the projects in a time-bound manner;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the funds allocated for Chikmagalur -Sakleshpur, Rayadurga-Tumkur via Kalyandurga, Shimoga-Harihar and Tumkur-ChitradurgaDavangere new railway lines during the last three years, year-wise?

## 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. 5214 BY KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.07.2019    REGARDING    DOUBLING  OF TRACKS

(a)  to  (d):  Birur-Shimoga  doubling  project  was  included  in  the  budget 2016-17  subject  to  requisite  Government  approvals.  Detailed  Project Report (DPR) of the project has been prepared vide which it was found that present capacity utilization of existing single line is only 53% and there is no  likelyhood  of  increase  in  anticipated  originating  loading.    In  fact,  a reduction  in  number  of  rakes  dealt  at  Steel  Plant  at  Bhadravathi  is anticipated.  As such, this project is not found operationally desirable and financially viable. Therefore, Government of Karnataka has been requested in March  2017 for their consent to provide land free of cost and share 50% construction cost of the project as is being done for some other projects  in  the  state.  However,  State  Government's  consent  to  provide land free of cost and share 50% construction cost of above project is not received  so  far  due  to  which  taking  forward  this  project  for  requisite Government approvals is held up.

36.04  Km  on  Arsikere-Tumkur(96  Km),  137.05Km  on  Hospet-HubliVasco-da-Gama (300.6 Km) and 37 Km on Hubli-Chikjajur (190 Km) doubling projects  have  been  commissioned  and  works  have  been  taken  up  in balance sections of these doubling projects.

…2/-

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 flooding,  excessive  rains,  cyclones,  strikes  of  labour,  orders  of  Hon'ble Courts,  situation  and  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.

For  important  projects,  capacity  enhancement  projects,  last  mile connectivity etc. institutional financing has been done by arranging loan of ` 1.5  lakh  crore,  which  has  increased  Railways'    capacity  for  committed fund provision for essential projects.

(e):  The  details  of  all  works  in  progress  and  new  works  including  cost, funds spent on each project, allotment of funds and expenditure made 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) >Railwaywise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme\_Regular Budget 2019-20 or 2018-19 or 2017-18 or 2016-17.

*****