Lok Sabha Question No. 2913 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Railway Projects in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Gomati Sai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2913 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN CHHATTISGARH

†2913. SHRIMATI GOMATI SAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) the current status and the details of various ongoing and pending railway projects in Chhattisgarh; project-wise;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  number  of  ongoing  projects  running  behind schedule;
- (c) the sanctioned/ongoing projects in the State which are likely to be completed/started during the year 2021-22; and
- (d)  the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  expedite  the completion of said projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.2913  BY  SHRIMATI  GOMATI  SAI  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  15.12.2021  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN CHHATTISGARH

(a)  to  (d)  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise,  not state  wise  as  Indian  Railways'  projects  may  span  across  state boundaries.  However, as on 01.04.2021,  17 Projects of total length 2748  km  costing ₹ 38,216  crore  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of Chhattisgarh are under different stage of planning/approval/execution, out of which 566 km  length has been commissioned and an expenditure  of ₹ 10,239  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March  2021. These include:

08  New  Lines  projects  covering  a  length  1358  km,  costing ₹ 23,381 crore, out of which 131 km has been commissioned and an expenditure ₹ 4,351 crore has been incurred upto March 2021.

09  Doubling  projects  covering  a  length  1390  km,  costing ₹ 14,835 crore, out of which 435 km has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 5,888 crore has been incurred upto March 2021.

Chhattisgarh is covered by South East Central Railway and East Coast Railway Zone of Indian Railways. Zonewise details of projects including expenditure and Budget outlay 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) >Rail Budget/Pink Book(year) Railway wise Works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme.

Contd…..2/-

The  completion  of  Railway  project/s  depend  on  various  factors  like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials of forest department, deposition of cost share by concerned State  Government  /agencies  in  cost  sharing  project/s,  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 due to climatic conditions etc. and all these  factors  affect  the  completion  time  of  the  project/s.  As  such confirmed timeline for completion of project/s cannot be ascertained at this stage. Nevertheless, every effort is being made to execute the project/s expeditiously.

Various steps being taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation of rail projects include (i) prioritisation of projects  (ii) substantial  increase  in  allocation  of  funds  on  priority  projects  (iii) delegation of powers at field level (iv) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels, and (v) 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.

Since  2014,  there  is  substantial  increase  in  budget  allocation  for infrastructure projects and commensurate commissioning Average Contd………3/-

Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works,  falling fully/ partly in State of Chhattisgarh, during 2014-19 has been enhanced  to ₹ 2,274  crore  per  year  from ₹ 311  crore  per  year(during 2009-14)  which  is  631%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay during 2009-14 ( ₹ 311 Cr/Yr). Total Budget allocation for these projects in  2019-20  has  been ₹ 3,269  crore  (951%  more  than    average  annual budget  outlay  of  2009-14,  and ₹ 3874  crore  for  Financial  Year  202021(1146% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14)

For  Financial  Year  2021-22, ₹ 3730  crore  has  been  provided  for  this works which is 1093% more than the average annual budget outlay of 2009-14( ₹ 311 Cr/Yr).

Since 2014-21, 637 Km sections (132 km of New line and 505 km of Doubling) falling  fully/partly  in  Chhattisgarh  have  been  commissioned at  an  average  rate  91  km  per  year,  which  is  1322%  more  than commissioning during 2009-14 ( 6.4 Km/Yr.)

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