Lok Sabha Question No. 500 (STARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Bullet Train Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 500 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## BULLET TRAIN PROJECT

- *500.  SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  the  project  of  first  Bullet Train in the country;
- (b) If so, the present status thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  relocation  and  compensation  packages  that  are being  offered  to  agricultural  landowners  in  Maharashtra  and  Gujarat, whose  land  the  Government  intends  to  acquire  for  the  MumbaiAhmedabad high speed rail corridor;
- (d) whether the Government is anticipating an increase in the project costs due to the continued delay of the project;
- (e) If so, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether the latest deferment of the deadline is 2026 and if so, the manner in  which  this  is  likely  to  impact  the  MoU  with  the  Japanese Government  and  the  Japan  International  Cooperation  Agency  along with the total expenditure thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.500 BY SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.04.2022 REGARDING BULLET TRAIN PROJECT

- (a) and  (b)  :  Yes,  Sir.  The  Government  has  sanctioned  the  first  High Speed  Rail  Corridor  between  Mumbai  and  Ahmedabad  in  December, 2015 with technical & financial assistance from Government of Japan and  the  same  is  presently  under  execution.  The  current  status  of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project is as under:
-  All  Statutory  Clearances  relating  to  wildlife,  Coastal  Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Forest clearance have been obtained.
-  Out of total land requirement of approx. 1396 ha., about 1248 ha. Land has been acquired so far.
-  The  entire  project  has  been  divided  into  27  Contract  packages including Training Institute at Vadodara. At present, 13 packages have  been  awarded,  3  are  under  evaluation  and  Notice  Inviting Tender (NIT) has been invited for 2 packages.
-  Out of total 352 Km length of project located in Gujarat and Dadra &  Nagar  Haveli,  Civil  works  in  352  Km  length  have  started  in different phases from December, 2020 onwards.

(c):  The  land  acquisition  and  Rehabilitation  activities  for  the  MAHSR Project is being done in accordance with the 'Right to Fair Compensation  and  Transparency  in  Land  Acquisition,  Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013' and relevant amendment and Government Resolutions (GR) of the respective State Governments.

(d) to  (f):  The  cost  of  MAHSR  Project  is ₹ 1,08,000  crore  as  in  2015. Delay  in  land  acquisition  especially  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra and consequent delays  in finalization  of contracts as  well as adverse

impact of COVID-19 have delayed the execution of MAHSR Project. The anticipated  increase  in  cost  and  time  can  be  fully  ascertained  only after completion of Land Acquisition, finalization of all contracts and associated timelines.

As  per  the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU),  Government  of Japan  will  provide  a  loan  of  81%  at  maximum  of  the  project  cost. Finalization of actual cost and the quantum of loan shall be amended accordingly if required.

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