Lok Sabha Question No. 2797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Survey of Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2797 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## SURVEY OF RAILWAY PROJECTS

## †2797.  SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  rail  projects  which  have  not  been  started  even  after  the completion of survey during the last three years;
- (b) the zone-wise number of rail projects which have been sanctioned during the last three years and the funds allocated; and
- (c) the details of steps taken/proposed to be taken to complete these projects in the prescribed time-frame?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  and  (b):  Sanctions  of  Railway  projects  depend  on  many  factors including its financial viability, cost sharing by stake holders, last mile connectivity, operational requirement, socio-economic grounds etc. Projects are taken forward after survey only after due consideration.

Total  154  Railway  projects  have  been  included  in  Budget  during last  three  years  i.e.  2016-17,  2017-18  and  2018-19  subject  to  requisite approvals.  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  >Ministry  of  Railways  >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance(Budget) >2019-20\_List\_of\_Works.

(c):  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, 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 affects 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 projects are completed  in  time,  without  cost  overrun,  lot  of  monitoring  is  done  in Railways  at  various  level  (field  level,  divisional  level,  zonal  level  and Board  level)  &  regular  meetings  are  held  with  the  officials  of  State Government  and  concerned  authorities  to  resolve  the  pending  issues 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 .

*****