Lok Sabha Question No. 2510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: New Railway Lines in Karnataka
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sumalatha Ambareesh, D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2510 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2022

## NEW RAILWAY LINES IN KARNATAKA

2510.   SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:
2. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there are a number of new railway lines announced for the State of Karnataka during the last two decades;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the proposed railway lines have not yet seen the light of the day; and
- (d) if  so, the reasons for delay in executing the proposed new railway lines and the steps taken in this regard?

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.  2510  BY  SHRIMATI  SUMALATHA  AMBAREESH  AND  SHRI D.K. SURESH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.03.2022 REGARDING NEW RAILWAY LINES IN KARNATAKA

(a)  to  (d):    Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  and  taken  up  Zonal  Railwaywise and not State-wise as the Indian Railways' projects may span across State boundaries. During the last 20 years i.e. 2001-02 onwards, 17 nos. of new line projects totalling 1,934 Km length falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka have been included in Budget out of which 11 new line projects of length 1,412 Km have been sanctioned.

As on 01.04.2021, 21 new line Projects costing ` 34,154 crore for 2,583 Km length falling fully/partly in State of Karnataka are under different stage of  planning/approval/execution,  Out  of  which  284  Km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 4,803 crore has been incurred upto March, 21.

Since 2014, there is substantial increase in budget  outlay for infrastructure projects and safety works and commensurate commissioning of projects. 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 200914.    For  financial  year  2019-20  budget  allocation  of ` 3,386  crore  (306% more  than  average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14)  and  for  financial  year 2020-21 ` 4,220 crore (405% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14)  has been  provided  for  these  works. For financial  year 2021-22, ...2/-

highest  ever  budget  outlay  of ` 4,297  crore  has  been  provided  for  these works, which is 415% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

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

The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like  deposition  of  cost  share  by  cost  sharing  authority  in  cost  sharing project(s), 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.  All these factors affect the completion time of the project(s).  As  such,  confirmed  completion  time  of  project(s)  cannot  be ascertained  at  this  stage.  Nevertheless,  every  effort  is  being  made  to execute the project(s) expeditiously.

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