Lok Sabha Question No. 670 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Railway Projects in Bihar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 670 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN BIHAR

670.  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  railway  projects  in  Bihar  for  which  survey  has  been conducted and approved but work is not underway as yet; and
- (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to speed up the work of approved railway projects in Bihar?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  670  BY  DR.  SANJAY  JAISWAL  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  20.07.2022  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN BIHAR

(a) and (b): Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise/distrtict-wise  as  Indian  Railways'  network  spans  across various  State  boundaries.    However,  as  on  01.04.2022,  52  Railway projects (32 new lines, 04 gauge conversions and 16 doublings), costing ₹ 66,597 crore,  covering  total  length  of  5,004  Km  falling  fully/partly  in the State of Bihar are in different stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which 1,240 Km  length has been  commissioned  and  an expenditure of ₹ 21,038 crore has been incurred upto March, 2022.

Projects  in  the  State  of  Bihar  are  covered  by  East  Central  Railway (ECR), Eastern Railway (ER), North Eastern Railway (NER) and Northeast Frontier  Railway  (NFR)  Zones  of  Indian  Railways.    The  project-wise details  including  cost,  expenditure  and  outlay  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)> Pink Book (year)>Railways-wise Works, Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme (RSP).

Since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  Budget  allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects. Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Bihar, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ₹ 3,061 crore per year  from ₹ 1,132  crore  per  year  during  2009-14,  which  is  170%  more than Average Annual Budget allocation during 2009-14. These allocations have been increased to ₹ 4,093 crore in Financial Year 2019-

20 (262% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14), ₹ 4,489 crore  in  Financial  Year  2020-21  (297%  more  than  the  Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14) and ₹ 5,560 crore in Financial Year 2021-22 (391% more than the Average Annual Budget Outlay of 200914).  For  Financial  Year  2022-23, highest ever Budget outlay of ₹ 6,606 crore  has  been  provided  for  these  projects,  which  is  484%  more  than the Average Annual Budget Outlay of 2009-14 ( ₹ 1,132 crore per year).

During  2014-22,  1096  Km  length  (317  Km  New  Lines,  425  Km  Gauge Conversion  and  354  Km  Doubling)  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the State of Bihar have been commissioned at an average rate 137 Km/year, which  is  115%  more  than  the  commissioning  during  2009-14  (63.6 Km/year Km).

Various steps being taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation  of  rail  projects  include  (i)  setting  up  of  Gati  Shakti Directorate in the Ministry and Gati Shakti units in field, (ii) prioritisation of projects, (iii) substantial increase in allocation of funds, (iv) delegation of powers at field level, (v) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels (vi) regular follow up with State Governments and concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition,  forestry  and  Wildlife  clearances  and  for  resolving  other issues pertaining to projects.

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