Lok Sabha Question No. 3285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Construction of Railway Lines in Himachal Pradesh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pratibha Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY LINES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

## 3285. SHRIMATI PRATIBHA SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the funds allocated and spent on the construction of railway lines in Himachal Pradesh during the last five years; year-wise;
- (b) whether the length of railway lines per square kilometer is less than the  national  average;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  measures  being  taken  by  the Government to bridge this gap; and
- (d) the details of railways projects sanctioned during last five years and its current status thereof?

## 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. 3285 BY SHRIMATI PRATIBHA SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.03.2022 REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY LINES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH (a):  The Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway-wise and not Statewise as the Railways' projects may span across State boundaries. However, as  on  01.04.2021,  04  New  line  Projects  of  total  length  258  Km  costing ₹ 16,133  crore,    falling  fully/partly  in  Himachal  Pradesh  are  under  different stages of planning/approval/execution, Out of which 61 Km length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of ₹ 1,712  Cr.  has  been  incurred  upto March 21. Railway projects falling fully/partly  in Himachal Pradesh are covered under Northern  Railway  Zone.    The  details    of  Railway  projects  including  cost, expenditure  and  outlay  are  made  available  in  public  domain  on  Indian Railways> Railway Board> about Indian Railways> Railway Board Directorates> Finance (Budget)>  Pink  Book  (year)>  Railway-wise  Works,  Machinery  and  Rolling

Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in> Ministry of Stock Programme (RSP).

(b) & (c):  Yes, Sir.  As on 31.03.2021, the total Route kilometer per 100 Sq km area in Himachal Pradesh is 0.56 route km per 100 Sq km area against National  average  of  2.07  route  km  per  100  Sq  km  of  area.    Completion  of ongoing projects in Himachal Pradesh will improve  rail density in Himachal Pradesh. Since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  budget  allocations  and commensurate  commissioning  of  Infrastructure  projects  &  safety  works. Average annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling  fully/  partly  in  State  of  Himachal  Pradesh,  during  2014-19  has  been 108 crore per year (during 2009-14), enhanced to ₹ 280 crore per year from ₹

which is 159% more than average allocation during 2009-14.  These Budget allocations has been ₹ 222 crore for financial year 2019-20 (106% more than average  annual  budget  allocation  during  2009-14), ₹ 597  crore  for  financial year 2020-21 (453% more than average annual budget allocation during 200914)  and ₹ 873  crore  for  financial  year  2021-22  (708%  more  than  average annual  budget  allocation  during  2009-14).    For  FY  2022-23,  highest  ever budget outlay of ₹ 1780 crore has been proposed for these projects, which is 1548% more than the average annual budget allocation of 2009-14. During    2009-14,  there  was  'Nil'  commissioning  of    new  lines  in  Himachal Pradesh, whereas during  2014-21,  total 16 km new lines, falling fully/partly in Himachal Pradesh has been commissioned.

(d): During the last five years i.e. 2017-18 onwards, one new line project of Una-Hamirpur  (54  km)  has  been  included  in    Budget  subject  to  requisite approvals.  Detailed Project Report (DPR)  has been prepared.

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