Lok Sabha Question No. 2479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Doubling/Electrification of Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Girish Chandra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2479 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2022

## DOUBLING/ELECTRIFICATION OF RAILWAY PROJECTS

2479. SHRI GIRISH CHANDRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the ongoing projects for doubling and electrification of railway tracks;
- (b) the details of the approved projects for doubling/electrification of railway tracks in the country, especially in Uttar Pradesh, during the last three years;
- (c) the  reasons  for  delay  in  these  projects  and  the    time  by  which these projects are expected to be completed; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Railways to complete these projects at the earliest?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2479 BY SHRI GIRISH CHANDRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.03.2022 REGARDING DOUBLING/ELECTRIFICATION OF RAILWAY PROJECTS.

(a):   As on 01.04.2021, across Indian Railways, 251 doubling projects of 23,915 Km length, costing approx. ` 2.94 lakh crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which, 4,430 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of approx. ` 86,041 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. At present, 97 Railway Electrification  projects  of  18,245  route  kilometre  costing ` 23,288 Crore are in different stages of planning/ execution on the entire Indian Railways.

Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects including cost, expenditure and 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 and Rolling Stock Programme.

(b): The Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise and not State  wise  as  the  Railways'  projects  may  span  across  various  state boundaries. Approval of Railway projects is a continuous and ongoing process.    During  the  last  three  years  (2018-19  to  2020-21)  and  the current  year,  34  doubling  projects  totaling    1175  km    length    have been    sanctioned  in  the  country  out  of  which  12  doubling  projects totaling 290 km fall fully/partly in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

112 Railway Electrification projects of 14,451 Route kilometer costing ` 13,206  Crore  have  been  sanctioned  during  the  last  three  years  i.e. 2018-19 to 2020-21 and the current year, out of which 16 projects of 1,296  Route  kilometer  costing ` 1,102  crore  fall  fully  /  partly  in  the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate  commissioning  of  projects  across  Indian  Railways. Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Uttar Pradesh, during 2014-19 has been  enhanced  to ` 5,278  crore  per  year  from ` 1,109  crore  per  year during  2009-14,  which  is  376%  more  than  Average  Annual  Budget allocation during 2009-14. These allocations have increased to ` 8,403 crore in Financial Year 2019-20 (658% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14) and ` 8,576 crore in Financial Year 202021 (673% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14). For  Financial  Year  2021-22,  highest  ever  budget  outlay  of ` 14,128 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 1,174% more than the Average Annual Budget outlay of 2009-14 ( ` 1,109 crore per year).

During  2014-21,  2032  Km  section  (204  km  of  New  line,  631  km  of Gauge conversion and 1197 km of Doubling ) falling fully/partly in the State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate 290.29  km  per  year,  which  is  46%  more  than  commissioning  during 2009-14 (199.2 Km/Yr.)

(c): Completion of 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 site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic  conditions,  etc.  and  all  these  factors  differ  from  project  to project and affect the completion time of the project(s), due to which confirmed time frame for completion of projects cannot be ascertained at this stage. Nevertheless, every effort is being made to execute the project(s) expeditiously.

(d):   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.

*****