Lok Sabha Question No. 678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Ajmer-Sawai Madhopur Railway Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 678 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## AJMER-SAWAI MADHOPUR RAILWAY PROJECT

†678.  SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Rajasthan Government has expressed its inability to bear 50 per cent cost and to provide land free of cost for 165 kilometer long Ajmer-Sawai  Madhopur  via  Tonk  railway  project  sanctioned  in  Rail Budget 2015-16 and has not signed the memorandum of Understanding for  the  said  project  as  a  result  of  which  the  project  has  been  lying pending till date;
- (b) if so, the year-wise details in this regard;
- (c)  whether  Railways  has  sanctioned  projects  on  the  basis  of  gross budgetary assistance in the country during the last five years and if so, the year-wise details of the project;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  implement  the  new  rail project  Ajmer  to  Tonk  via  Sawai  Madhopur  with  gross  budgetary support; and
- (e) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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. 678 BY SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.07.2022 REGARDING AJMERSAWAI MADHOPUR RAILWAY PROJECT

(a)  to  (e):  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)  -  Sawai  Madhopur  (ChauthKa  Barwara) via Tonk (165 km) new line project was included in the Budget 2015-16 with the commitment from Government of Rajasthan to provide land free of cost and to share 50% cost of the project. Accordingly, State Government was requested for funding 50% of the project cost and to provide land free of cost. Government of Rajasthan has not agreed for providing  land  free  of  cost  and  share  50%  cost  of  project  and expressed their inability for cost sharing.

Since Government of Rajasthan has expressed their inability in cost  sharing  of  Ajmer  (Nasirabad)  -  Sawai  Madhopur  (ChauthKa Barwara)  via  Tonk  (165  km)  new  line  project,  Memorandum  of Understanding  (MoU)  for  the  project  has  not  been  signed  yet  with Government of Rajasthan and therefore execution of project is held up on this account.

On the request of Government of Rajasthan, Bankability study of project was carried out by Railway. As per report Rate of Return of project is (-) 7.85% with land cost and (-) 7.08% without land cost.

Considering  the  huge  shelf  of  ongoing  projects  and  Rate  of Return (-)7.85% of the project, it is not possible for Railways to take up the Ajmer to Tonk via Sawai Madhopur new line project solely with Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).

Presently, 28 projects (11 new lines, 05 gauge conversion and 12 doubling), costing ` 59,271 crore for 5,069 km length falling fully/partly in Rajasthan are under different stages of planning/approval/execution,

out  of  which,  1,196  km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an 11,207 Cr. has been incurred upto March 2022. These expenditure of ` include:

-  11 New Line Projects covering a length of 1,228 km at a cost of ` 16,942 crore, out of which 107 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 2,695  crore  has  been incurred upto March 22.
-  05 Gauge Conversion Projects covering a length of 1,319 km at a cost  of ` 12,690  crore,  out  of  which  654  km  length  has  been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 3,652  crore  has  been incurred upto March 22.
-  12 Doubling Projects covering a length of 2,522 km at a cost of ` 29,639 crore, out of which 434 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 4,860  crore  has  been incurred upto March 22.

Since 2014, there is substantial increase in Budget allocation for infrastructure  projects  and  commensurate  commissioning.  Average annual Budget allocation on infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in Rajasthan during 2014-19 has been increased to ` 2,951 crore per year from ` 682 crore per year during 2009-14. Thus, the  average  annual  Budget  allocation  during  2014-19  is  333%  more than  average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14.    Budget  allocation  for these projects in 2019-20 has been increased to ` 4,686 crore (587% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14) and ` 4,582 crore  in  financial   year  2020-21  ( 572%  more  than  average  annual

Budget  outlay  of  2009-14).  Budget  outlay  of ` 6006  crore  has  been provided for these projects for financial year 2021-22 which is 781% more than average annual budget outlay during 2009-14. Highest ever Budget outlay of ` 7565 crore has been provided for these projects for financial  year  2022-23  which  is  1009%  more  than  average  annual budget outlay during 2009-14.

During  2014-22,  2322  km  sections  (176  km  New  line,  771  km Gauge  conversion  and  1375  km  Doubling),  falling  fully/partly  in  the State  of    Rajasthan,  have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of 290.25 km  per  year, which  is 82%  more  than  average  annual commissioning achieved during 2009-14 (159.60 Km/year).

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