Lok Sabha Question No. 5446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Ongoing/pending Railway Projects in Ujjain
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## ONGOING/PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS  IN UJJAIN

†5446.  SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of ongoing and pending railway projects in Ujjain;
- (b) the details of funds allocated and released for the development of the said projects in Ujjain; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  timely completion of the said projects, if so, the details thereof?

## 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. 5446 BY SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023 REGARDING ONGOING/ PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN UJJAIN.

(a)  to  (c)  The  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise,  not State-wise or area-wise as the Railways' projects may span across State boundaries.

Railway  has  taken  up  Indore-Dewas-Ujjain  (79  kilometers)  doubling project at a cost of ₹ 757 crores. So far, an expenditure of ₹ 575 crores has been  incurred  and  52  km  doubling  has  been  completed.  Work  has  been taken up in balance section.

Moreover,  as  on  01.04.2022,  33  Railway  Infrastructure  projects  (08 new lines, 02 gauge conversion and 23 doubling), costing ₹ 84,469 crore for  5,872  km  length,  falling  fully/partly  in  Madhya  Pradesh  including  that falling in Ujjain area are under different stages of planning/approval/execution.  Out  of  which,  1,319  km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 23,780 crore has been incurred upto March, 2022. These include:

08 New Line Projects covering total length of 1,979 km at a cost of ₹ 36,163  crore, out of which 355 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 6,606 crore has been incurred upto March, 2022.

02  Gauge Conversion Projects covering total  length  of  780  km  at  a cost of ₹ 10,764 crore, out of which 279 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 3,015 crore has been incurred upto March, 2022.

23 Doubling Projects covering total length of 3,113 km at a cost of ₹ 37,542 crore, out of which 685 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 14,159 crore has been incurred upto March, 2022.

Railway  projects  falling  fully/  partly  in  Madhya  Pradesh  including Ujjain are covered by North Central Railway, North Western Railway, West Central Railway, East Central Railway, Western Railway, Central Railway, South  Central  Railway  and  South  East  Central  Railway  Zones  of  Indian Railways. The Zonewise details of Railway projects including allotment of funds and expenditure etc., 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.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in Budget allotment for infrastructure projects. Average annual Budget allocation for infrastructure projects  and safety works, falling  fully/ partly   in   the State of Madhya Pradesh, during 2014-19 has been  enhanced  to ₹ 4,213 crore per  year  from ₹ 632  crore  per  year  during  2009-14,  which  is  567%  more than  average  annual  Budget  allocation  during  2009-14.  Annual  Budget allocations  on  these  projects  have  been  increased  to ₹ 6,906  crore  in Financial Year 2019-20 (993% more than average annual Budget allocation of  2009-14), ₹ 6,509 crore in Financial Year 2020-21(930% more than the average  annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14), ₹ 9,041  crore  in  Financial Year 2021-22 (1331% more than the average annual Budget allocation of 2009-14) and ₹ 12,110 crore in Financial Year 2022-23 (1816% more than the  average  annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14).     For  financial  year

2023-24,  the  highest  ever  Budget  allocation  of ₹ 13,607  crore  has  been proposed for these projects, which is 2053% more than the average annual Budget allocation of 2009-14 ( ₹ 632 crore per year).

During 2014-22, 1515 km sections (293 km New line, 631 km Gauge conversion and 591 km Doubling), falling fully/partly in the State of  Madhya Pradesh,  have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  189.38  km  per year,  which  is  553%  more  than  average  annual  commissioning  achieved during 2009-14 (29 km per year).

Completion  of  Railway  project/s  depends  on  various  factors  like quick 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  etc.  All  these  factors  affect  the completion  time  of  the  project/s.   With  above  constraints,  every  effort  is being made to execute the project/s expeditiously.

Various  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  effective  and speedy implementation of rail projects include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti Directorate in the Ministry and Gati Shakti units in field, (ii) prioritization of projects, (iii) substantial increase in allocation of funds, (iv) delegation of powers at field level, (v) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels  (vi)  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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