Lok Sabha Question No. 1097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Ongoing Railway Projects in Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1097 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 1097. SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and the present status of ongoing railway projects in Maharashtra including those announced during the last five year Union Budgets;
- (b) the  details  of  the  railway  projects  announced  during  the  last five  year  Union  Budgets  for  Maharashtra  but  have  not  been taken  up  for  execution  so  far,  project-wise,  along  with  the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated/spent  along  with  the  funds lying unspent for the said projects during the last three years, project-wise, along with the reasons for unspent funds;
- (d) the reasons for the delay in timely completion of these projects; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard and to avoid further escalation of cost of these projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1097 BY SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.02.2023 REGARDING ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

(a) to (e): Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise as Indian Railways' projects may span across State boundaries.  However,  as  on  01.04.2022,  34  Railway  projects  (16  New line,  02  Gauge  Conversion  and  16  Doubling),  of  total  length  6,118  km costing  ₹80,079  crore  falling  fully/  partly  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra including those announced during the last five year Union Budgets, are in different stages of planning/ approval/ execution, out of which 1,154 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹21,297 crore incurred upto March, 2022. These include-

- (i) 16 New Line projects covering total length of 2,017 km at a cost of ₹38,359 crore, out of which 93 km  length has been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  ₹5,084  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2022.
- (ii) 2 Gauge Conversion projects covering total length of 580 km at a  cost  of  ₹7,062  crore,  out  of  which  279  km  length  has  been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  ₹2,404  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2022.
- (iii) 16 Doubling projects covering total length of 3,521 km at a cost of ₹34,658  crore, out  of  which  782  km  length  has  been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  ₹13,809  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2022.

Contd…2/-

Railway  infrastructure  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of Maharashtra are covered under Central Railway, South Central Railway, South  East  Central  Railway,  South  Western  Railway,  West  Central Railway and Western Railway Zones of Indian Railways. Zone-wise and Year-wise  details  of  railway  projects  including  their  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.

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  due  to  climatic conditions etc. and 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 Shakit  Directorate  in  Ministry  of  Railways  and  Gati  Shakti  Units  in divisions (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase  in allocation of funds on priority projects (iv) delegation of powers at field level (v) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels and (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.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation for infrastructure and safety work projects and commensurate commissioning of projects in Indian Railways.

Average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and safety works, falling fully/partly in the state of Maharashtra, during 201419 has been enhanced to ₹4,801 crore per year from ₹1,171 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 310% more than average annual Budget allocation during 2009-14. Annual budget allocations on these projects have  been  increased  to  ₹7,281  crore  in  Financial  Year  2019-20  (522% more than average annual Budget allocation of 2009-14), ₹6,700 crore in Financial  Year  2020-21  (472%  more  than  the  average  annual  Budget allocation of 2009-14) and ₹8,547 crore in Financial Year 2021-22 (630% more  than  the  average  annual  Budget  allocation  of  2009-14).  For Financial  Year  2022-23,  the  highest  ever  Budget  allocation  of  ₹11,903 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 916% more than the average annual Budget allocation of 2009-14 (₹1,171 crore per year).

During 2014-22, 1141 Km sections (118 Km of New line, 136 km of Gauge  Conversion  and  887  Km  of  Doubling),  falling  fully/partly  in  the state  of  Maharashtra,  have  been  commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of 142.63  Km  per  year  which  is  144%  more  than  commissioning  during 2009-14 (58.4km/year)

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