Lok Sabha Question No. 538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Doubling of Railway Line Projects in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.538 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

DOUBLING OF RAILWAY LINE PROJECTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

538. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to State :

- (a) whether the Railways has taken up any gauge conversion and doubling of railway line projects in the State of Andhra Pradesh in the current financial year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the details of the budget allocations made, project-wise and the estimated time for the completion of the works; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  progress  made  so  far  and  the  action  plan chalked  out  to  complete  these  works  within  the  stipulated timeframe?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.538  BY  SHRI  KANUMURU  RAGHU RAMA  KRISHNA  RAJU  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 01.12.2021 REGARDING DOUBLING OF RAILWAY LINE PROJECTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

(a) to (c) Railway projects are sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise not State wise as Indian Railways' network spans across various state boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2021, 17 Doubling projects of total length 3789 km costing ₹ 41,061 crore falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh  are  under different stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which 402 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 10,937 crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March  2021.  There  is  no  Gauge Conversion  Project  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh is  covered  by  Southern  Railway,  South  Central Railway, South Western Railway and East Coast Railway. Zonal Railway wise details of projects including cost, expenditure, time and outstanding 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) >Pink Book(Year) >Railway wise works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme.

Contd…..2/-

Average annual budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh, during 2014-19 has increased to ₹ 2830 crore  per year from ₹ 886 crore  per  year  during  2009-14.  Thus,  an  increase  of  219%  over the  average  annual  budget  allocation  of 2009-14.  Budget  outlay for  these  projects  has  been  increased  to ₹ 3885  crore  in  201920(338%  more  than  average  annual  budget  outlay  during  200914) and ₹ 4910 crore in 2020-21 (454% more than average annual budget  outlay during 2009-14). For financial year 2021-22 highest ever  budget  outlay  of ₹ 5812 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 556% more than average annual outlay during 2009-14.

During  2014-21,  731  Km  section  (319  km  New  line  and  412  km Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh have been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  104.43  km  per  year, which  is  44%  more  than  average  annual  commissioning  during 2009-14( 72.6 Km / Yr.)

The completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, deposition of cost share amount by State Government in cost sharing projects, shifting of

Contd……3/-

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 affect the completion time of the project/s. Nevertheless, every effort is being made to execute the projects 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.

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