Lok Sabha Question No. 3298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Doubling Work of Guntur-Guntakal Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3298 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## DOUBLING WORK OF GUNTUR-GUNTAKAL RAIL LINE

3298. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Railways has allocated Rs. 803 crores in the Budget 202223 for Guntur-Guntakal doubling work of 401 kms;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  so  far  only  92  kms  has  been  completed  since  its implementation in 2016-17;
- (c) if so, the details of cost overrun of the project from its original cost of Rs.3,631 crores; and
- (d) the likely date of completion of the project?

## 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.3298  BY  SHRI  LAVU  SRI  KRISHNA  DEVARAYALU  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.03.2022  REGARDING DOUBLING WORK OF GUNTUR-GUNTAKAL RAIL LINE

(a)  to  (d)  Yes  Sir,  An  outlay of ₹ 803 crore has been proposed for financial year 2022-23 for Guntakal-Guntur doubling project. Guntur-Guntakal doubling (401.47 km) project was sanctioned in 2016-17. Anticipated cost of this project is ₹ 3887 crore. So far an expenditure of ₹ 1490 crore has been incurred on the project.

Government of Andhra Pradesh to handover balance 264 Ha private land and forestry clearance of 34 Ha forest land. So far total 137 km section doubling has been commissioned, out of which 69  km  doubling  has  been  commissioned  in  this  financial  year.  Work  has been taken up in balance section in available land.

Completion of a Railway project(s) depends  on various factors like expeditious  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials  of  forest  department,  timely  deposition  of  cost  share  by  cost sharing authorities, 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  site  due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.  and  all these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project(s), which is finally  worked  out  at  the  completion  stage.  Nevertheless,  every  effort  is being made to execute the project(s) expeditiously.

Contd……P/2

Since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  budget  outlay  on infrastructure projects and safety works. 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  2019-20(338%  more  than average annual budget outlay during 2009-14) and ₹ 4910 crore in 2020-21 (454%  more  than  average  annual  budget    outlay  during  2009-14).  For financial year 2021-22 budget outlay of ₹ 6223 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 602% more than average annual outlay during 200914.

For financial year 2022-23, highest ever budget outlay of ₹ 7032 crore has been proposed for these projects, which is 694% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14( ₹ 886 crore/year).

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

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