Lok Sabha Question No. 3328 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Rail Network Projects in Bundelkhand
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3328

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## RAIL NETWORK PROJECTS IN BUNDELKHAND

†3328. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  entered  into  any  agreement  with  the private  sector  for  the  speedy  expansion  of  the  rail  network  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  early completion of pending rail projects in the country; and
- (d)  the  details  of  all  the  proposed/pending  rail  network  projects  in Bundelkhand and the time by which these are likely to be started/completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d):  The  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned/executed  Zonal  Railway wise and not State-wise/Region-wise as the Railways' projects may span across state boundaries.

As  on  01.04.2023,  across  Indian  Railways  including  Bundelkhand,  459 Railway Infrastructure projects (189 New Line, 39 Gauge Conversion and 231 Doubling) of total length 46,360 Km, costing approx. 7.18 lakh crore are  in  planning/approval/construction  stage,  out  of  which,  11,872  Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of approx. 2.61 lakh crore has been incurred upto March, 2023.

Zone-wise details of all Railway Projects including 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 (RSP)

The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of  forest  department,  deposition  of  cost  share  by  State  Government  in cost sharing projects, priority of projects, 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 and cost of the project(s).

Various steps taken by the Government  for speedy  approval and implementation of rail projects include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti units (ii) prioritization 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. This has led to substantial increase in rate of commissioning since 2014.

During  2014-23,  across  Indian  Railway,  25,871  km  sections  (5,785  km New  Line,  5,749  km  Gauge  Conversion  and  14,337  km  Doubling)  have been commissioned at an average of 2,875 km/year which is 89% more than the average commissioning during 2009-14 (1,520 km/year).

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