Lok Sabha Question No. 2529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Construction of Dallirajhara-Ravghat Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2529 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## CONSTRUCTION OF DALLIRAJHARA - RAVGHAT RAIL LINE

†2529.  SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state  :

- (a) whether provision of funds has not been made in General Budget 2023-24  for  construction  of  Dallirajhara-Jagdalpur-Ravghat  rail line under south east central railway zone and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  quantum  of  construction  work  completed  and  likely  to  be completed on this rail division;
- (c) the initial cost of the project and the cost after escalation;
- (d) the  amount  of  funds  provided  for  construction  of  rail  lines  in Chhattisgarh during the last six years; and
- (e) the rail line in kilometers for which construction work has been completed?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS &  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (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.2529  BY  SHRI  DEEPAK  BAIJ  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.03.2023 REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF DALLIRAJHARA-RAVGHAT RAILWAY LINE

(a) to (e) Railway has taken up construction of Dallirajhara - RowghatJagdalpur  rail  line  (235  Km)  project  which  was  included  in  budget 1995-96. Project has been taken up in two phases. Phase-I -Dallirajhara-Rowghat  (0-  95  km)  and  Phase-II-Rowghat-Jagdalpur(95235  km).  Phase  I  between  Dallirajhara-Rowghat  (95km)  is  being executed  by  RVNL  through  funding  by  SAIL  (Steel  Authority  of  India Limited). Phase II between Rowghat - Jagdalpur (140 km) was planned for execution through SPV named BRPL.

Phase-I Dallirajhara-Rowghat (95 km): This section is being executed by RVNL and funded by SAIL. Abstract estimate costing ₹ 304.29 crore was sanctioned in the year 2003-04. The anticipated cost at present is ₹ 1627.56 crore.  Work on this Phase was started in 2010.  The work from Dallirajhara to Antagarh (60 Km) has been completed. Work has been taken up in balance section. Project area is affected by Left Wing Extremism  (LWE)  and  work  has  to  be  taken  up  under  dedicated security cover with daily mobilization and demobilization of machinery. This  is  affecting  the  pace  of  execution  of  the  project.  An  outlay  of ₹ 500 crore has been proposed for the financial year 2023-24.

Phase  II  Rowghat-Jagdalpur(140  km):  The  Rowghat  -  Jagdalpur  (140 km)  section  of Dallirajhara-Jagdalpur-Rowghat  rail  line  project was planned  for  execution  through  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  named Bastar  Railway  Private  Limited  (BRPL)  consisting  of  Government  of

Chhattisgarh, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), National Mineral Development  Corporation  (NMDC)  and  IRCON  at  an  approx.  cost of ₹ 2538 crore. The land acquisition for this Project is under process and  approximately  249  Ha  of  land  out  of  776  Ha  required  for  the project has been acquired. The balance 527 Ha land includes 95 Ha of private land and 432 Ha of forest land.

However, Ministry of Railways have now granted 'in principle' approval for  taking  over  the  Rowghat-Jagdalpur  section(Phase-II)  as  a  railway project which was earlier entrusted to Bastar Railway Private Limited (BRPL). The work of preparing Detailed Project Report has been taken up for further consideration of project.

Railway projects falling fully/partly in Chhattisgarh are covered under South East Central Railway and East Coast Railway of Indian Railways. Zonal  Railway  wise  details  of  projects  including  expenditure  and Budget  outlay  project-wise  on  each  project  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) >Regular Budget/Pink Book(year) Railway wise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in budget allocation and commensurate commissioning of infrastructure projects. Average annual budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Chhattisgarh,  during  2014-19  has increased  to ₹ 2274crore   per  year  from ₹ 311crore  per  year  during 2009-14. Thus, there was an increase of 631% over the average annual budget  allocation  of   2009-14.  Budget  outlay  for  these  projects  has been increased to ₹ 3269 crore in 2019-20 (951% more than average annual budget outlay during 2009-14), ₹ 3874 crore in 2020-21 (1146% more than average annual budget  outlay during 2009-14), ₹ 3730 crore for  financial  year  2021-22(1099%  more  than  average  annual  outlay during  2009-14)  and ₹ 5,715  crore  for  financial  year  2022-23(1738% more than the average budget outlay of 2009-14). During  2014-22,  744  Km  sections(145  km  New  line  and  599  km Doubling) falling fully/partly in Chhattisgarh have been commissioned at  an  average  rate  93  km  per  year,  which  is  1353%  more  than commissioning during 2009-14 ( 6.4 Km/Yr.)

Completion  of  any  Railway  project/s  depends  on  various  factors  like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances  from  various  authorities,  geological  and  topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in a year for particular project/s site etc. All  these  factors  affect  the  completion  time  of  the  project/s.   With above constraints, Railway is making all effort for expeditious completion of project/s.

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