Lok Sabha Question No. 116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Construction of New Railways Line between Gaya-Daltonganj
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2022

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN GAYA-DALTONGANJ

116. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is aware about the fact that the project related to the construction of a new railway line Gaya-Sherghati-Imamganj-Daltonganj is still pending;
- (b) if so, the timeline for completion of the project;
- (c) whether the Railways is aware about the fact that the project related to the  construction  of  a  new  railway  line  upto  Chirimiri-Ambikapur  is  still pending; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said project is likely to be completed?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 116 BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.02.2022 REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN GAYA-DALTONGANJ

(a) and (b) : Gaya-Daltonganj via Rafiganj (136.88 Km) new rail line project was included in Budget in the year 2008-09. Anticipated cost of the project is ₹ 2,860.55 crore.  Final Location Survey has been taken up.

Railway  has  reviewed  all  the  projects  based  on  last  mile  connectivity, missing  links,  traffic  potential  on  the  project,  capacity  enhancement, availability of land, forest/wild-life clearance etc. and based on the review, Railway  projects  have  been  prioritized.  Presently,  Railway's  focus  is  on completion  of  capacity  enhancement  projects  and  last  mile  connectivity projects. As such, no confirmed timeline can be given for completion of this project.

Since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  Budget  allocation  and commensurate commissioning of projects. Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Bihar, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ₹ 3,061 crore per year from ₹ 1,132  crore  per  year  during  2009-14,  which  is  170%  more  than Average Annual Budget allocation during 2009-14. These allocations have been increased to ₹ 4,093  crore  in  Financial  Year  2019-20 (262%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14)  and ₹ 4,489 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (297% more than the Average Annual Budget  allocation  of  2009-14).  For  Financial  Year  2021-22,  highest  ever budget outlay of ₹ 5,560 crore {Original Budget Outlay (BE) ₹ 5150 crore and additional  allotment ₹ 410  crore}  has  been  provided  for  these  projects, which  is  391%  more  than  the  Average  Annual  Budget  Outlay  of  2009-14 ( ₹ 1,132 crore per year).

During  2014-21,  968  Km  length  (317  Km  New  Lines,  345  Km  Gauge Conversion and 306 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Bihar has been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  138.29  Km  per  year,  which  is 117% more than the commissioning during 2009-14 (63.6 Km per year). Similarly,  average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  and  safety works,  falling  fully/partly  in  State  of  Jharkhand  during  2014-19,  has  been enhanced to ₹ 2,089 crore per year from ₹ 457 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 357% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. Budget outlay for these projects has been increased to ₹ 2,493 crore for Financial Year  2019-20  (446%  more  than  average  annual  outlay  of  2009-14)  and ₹ 3,221  crore  for  Financial  Year  2020-21  (605%  more  than  average  annual budget outlay of 2009-14). For Financial Year 2021-22, highest-ever budget outlay  of ₹ 4,182  crore  (Original  Budget  Estimate  (BE) ₹ 4079  crore  and Additional outlay ₹ 103 crore) has been provided for these projects, which is 815% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. During 2014-21, 863 Km sections (433 Km New Lines and 430 Km Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Jharkhand has been commissioned  at an average rate of 123.29 Km per year, which is 115% more than the average annual commissioning during 2009-14 (57.4 Km per year).

(c)  and  (d):    Updating  survey  for  new  line  between  Barwadih-Chirmiri (Ambikapur) (182 Km) was conducted in year 2010-2011. The then Planning Commission was requested (March, 2012) to accord 'In Principle' approval to  the  work  of  new  line  between  Barwadih  and  Ambikapur  (182  Km)  at  a cost of ₹ 1104.50 crore. Planning Commission has accorded (June 2012) 'In Principle'  approval  to  the  aforesaid  project  with  the  condition  that  the Railway  gets  land  free  of  cost  from  concerned  State  Govt.  and  approach Coal  India,  which  has  huge  investible  surplus,  with  the  request  to  jointly develop  this  project  as  a  joint  venture.  Accordingly,  State  Government  of

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Coal India Ltd were requested in May 2013 to provide  land  free  of  cost  and  develop  this  project  jointly.  At  that  time, neither  State  Governments  of  Chhattisgarh  and  Jharkhand  nor  Coal  India Ltd. responded. As such project could not be taken forward. Now, Chattisgarh Railway Corporation Ltd, (CRCL) a Joint Venture Company of  Government  of  Chattisgarh  and  Ministry  of  Railways  has  identified  this project  for  assessment  of  economic  viability  and  feasibility  of  BarwadihAmbikapur  (182  Km)  new  line.  State  Government  of  Chhattisgarh  has requested M/s South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) for investment in this project.  Accordingly,  Ministry  of  Railway,  has  also  requested  Ministry  of Coal to consider proposal of State Government. Since 2014, there is substantial increase in budget allocation for infrastructure  projects  and  commensurate  commissioning  Average  Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully/ partly in State  of  Chhattisgarh,  during  2014-19  has  been  enhanced  to ₹ 2,274 crore per year from ₹ 311 crore per year (during 2009-14) which is 631% more than average  annual  budget  outlay  during  2009-14  ( ₹ 311  crore  per  year).  Total Budget allocation for these projects in 2019-20 has been ₹ 3,269 crore (951% more than  average annual budget outlay of 2009-14, and ₹ 3874 crore for Financial Year 2020-21(1146% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14). For Financial Year 2021-22, ₹ 3,730 crore has been provided for these works which is 1099% more than the average annual budget outlay of 2009-14 ( ₹ 311 crore per year). Since  2014-21,  637  Km  sections  (132  km  of  New  line  and  505  km  of Doubling) falling fully/partly in Chhattisgarh have been commissioned at an average  rate  91  km  per  year,  which  is  1322%  more  than  commissioning during 2009-14 ( 6.4 Km per year).