Lok Sabha Question No. 1447 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: Railway Projects in Karnataka
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Prathap Simha, Umesh G. Jadhav, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, B. Y. Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1447 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA

1447.  SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the  present  status  and  project-wise  details  of  various  ongoing and pending rail projects in Karnataka;
- (b) the  number  of  rail  projects  running  behind  the  stipulated  timeperiod along with the details thereof;
- (c) the names of such approved/ongoing projects in Karnataka State which are likely to be completed or started during the year 202122; and
- (d) the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  expedite completion of these 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.1447  BY  SHRI  PRATHAP  SIMHA,  DR. UMESH  G.  JADHAV,  SHRI  ANNASAHEB  SHANKAR  JOLLE,  SHRI SANGANNA  AMARAPPA  AND  SHRI B.Y.  RAGHAVENDRA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  28.07.2021    REGARDING    RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA

(a): Railway projects are sanctioned and taken up Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise as the Indian Railways' span across various State boundaries.  However,  as  on  01.04.2021,  36  Projects  costing ` 56,245 crore  for  4,544  km  length  falling  fully/partly  in  Karnataka  are  under different  stages  of  planning/  approval/  execution,  out  of  which  1,193 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 15,537 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. These include-

-  21 New Line Projects covering a length of 2,583 km at a cost of ` 34,154 crore, out of which 284 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 4,803  crore  has  been incurred upto March, 2021.
-  15 Doubling Projects covering a length of 1,961 km at a cost of ` 22,091 crore, out of which 909 km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ` 10,734  crore  has  been incurred upto March, 2021.

Karnataka is covered by South Western Railway (SWR), Central Railway (CR), Southern Railway (SR) and South Central Railway (SCR). Railway  Zone-wise  details  of  all  ongoing  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.

Average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  and  safety works,  falling  fully/  partly  in  State  of  Karnataka,  during  2014-19  has been  enhanced  to ` 2,702  crore  per  year  from ` 835  crore  per  year during  2009-14,  which  is  224%  more  than  average  annual  budget outlay of 2009-14.  For financial year 2021-22, budget outlay of ` 4,204 crore  has  been  provided  for  these  works,  which  is  403%  more  with respect to average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During 2014-21, 1,162 km projects (281 km of New Line and 881 km of Doubling projects) falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka have been commissioned at an average rate 166 km per year, which is 47% more than average commissioning during 2009-14 (113 km/year).

(b)  &  (c):   Completion  of  a  Railway  project(s)  depends  on  various factors like expeditious 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(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  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.

(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.

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