Lok Sabha Question No. 1740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Ongoing Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: LALLU SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1740 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS

†1740.   SHRI LALLU SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  several  ongoing  railway  projects  are  more  than  30 years old and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  reasons  for  inordinate  delay  in  implementation  of  these projects and the new time-limit fixed for completion of these project;
- (c) whether review is being done on time to evaluate the feasibility  of  these  long  pending  projects  and  implementation thereof;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether any mechanism is in place to give priority to pending projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1740  BY  SHRI  LALLU  SINGH  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  13.02.2019  REGARDING  ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS

(a) to (e): There are 2 ongoing railway projects which are more than 30 years old. The details of these projects are as given below:-

1.  Nangal  Dam-Talwara  (83.74  Km)  new  broad  gauge  line  &  taking over siding of Mukerian-Talwara (29.16 Km)

Present status &  reasons for  delay  -  The  project  was  sanctioned  in 1981-82. The section from Nangal Dam to Daulatpur Chowk (60 Km) has  been  commissioned.  From  Daulatpur  Chowk  to  Kartoli  Punjab, land acquisition has been taken up with State Governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The project could not be taken up at desired pace due to delay in land acquisition.

2.    Howrah-Amta  (42Km)  and  Bargachia-Champadanga (32 Km) New Line

Present status &  reasons for  delay  -  The  project  was  sanctioned  in 1974-75. Part of main project i.e., Howrah - Amta new line (42 Km) has been commissioned.

For Bargachia-Champadanga new line (32 Km) section, land was to be provided  free  of  cost  by  Government  of  West  Bengal.  However,  the State Government later showed inability in providing land free of cost. In  2009,  it  was  decided  that  1/3 rd   cost  of  land  will  be  borne  by  the

State Government and remaining cost by Railways. Accordingly, land acquisition  proposals  have  been  sent  to  the  State  Government  and ` 23.62  Crore  have  also  been  deposited  by  Railways  towards  their share of cost as demanded by the State Government. Due to abnormal increase in land cost, it has been decided to take up the Project as per original MOU with State Government. The State government has not handed over land for the project.

The  completion  of  Railway  projects  requires  acquisition  of  land, shifting of utilities, various statutory clearances etc.  leading to time and cost overrun.

All  sanctioned  projects  are  reviewed  periodically  both  at  Ministry and  Zonal  Railway  level  for  which  there  exist  well  established mechanism.

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