Lok Sabha Question No. 1543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Gati Shakti-National Master Plan in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1543 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## GATI SHAKTI-NATIONAL MASTER PLAN IN MADHYA PRADESH AND MAHARASHTRA

†1543.

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the rail line projects identified/launched for execution  under  PM  Gati  Shakti-National  Master  Plan  for  multimodal  connectivity  in  the  country,  State-wise,  particularly  in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra;
- (b) the details of routes identified for transportation of commodities such  as  agricultural  product,  fertilizers,  coal,  iron  ore,  steel, cement, limestone etc.; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to provide connectivity for the rapid development of the country ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING 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. 1543 BY SMT. BHARTI PARDHI AND SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2024 REGARDING GATI SHAKTI - NATIONAL MASTER PLAN IN MADHYA PRADESH AND MAHARASHTRA

(a) to (c): Railway  projects  are  surveyed/  sanctioned/executed  Zonal Railway  wise  and  not  State-wise  as  the  Railway  projects  may  span across State boundaries. Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness, traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated  lines,  demands  raised  by  State  Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives, Railway's own operational requirement, socioeconomic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

The launch of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) in October, 2021, by Hon'ble Prime Minister, has brought transformative approach in  planning  and  execution  of  infrastructural  transportation  projects. The  NMP,  spanning  across  the  entire  country  including  Madhya Pradesh  and Maharashtra, has brought in synergy  between  the infrastructural sectors such as railways, shipping, roadways, telecommunications,  pipelines,  etc.  through  collaboration  amongst concerned Ministries/State Governments/Departments, thereby speeding up the clearances needed for the project completion as well as planning at a faster pace.

Indian Railways has imbibed the principles of Gati Shakti in its project planning process and now survey of all New Line, Gauge Conversion and  Doubling  projects  are  taken  up  under  PM  Gati  Shakti  National Master    Plan    (NMP)    for    the    development      of      multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various Economic Zones with an objective  to  have  integrated  planning,  enhanced  logistics  efficiency and remove gaps for seamless movement of people, goods/ commodities i.e. agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, limestone etc. and services including connectivity to places of strategic importance, border areas, industrial clusters, ports, mines, power plants, villages etc.

About 566 railway projects across Indian Railways including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh have been mapped on the Gati Shakti GIS platform and more and more projects are further being mapped/planned on the platform. PM Gati Shakti Institutional mechanism is being extensively used for ground surveys, land records, alignment  of  route  and  has  led  to  enhancement  in  the  quality  of preparation of Detailed Project Report and reduction in project cost.

Various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  speedy  approval  and implementation of Railway projects include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti units (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase in allocation of  funds  on  priority projects  (iv) delegation  of  powers at  field  level ..P/3

(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.

As a result of comprehensive planning and better coordination among various stakeholders, the pace of laying / commissioning of new tracks has also increased as under:-

| Period   | New Tracks Commissioned   | Annual Average new tracks commissioned   |
|----------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 7,599 Km                  | 4.2 Km/day                               |
| 2014-24  | 31,180 Km                 | 8.54 Km/day (more than 2 times)          |

During  the  last  two  years  i.e.  2022-23  and  2023-24,  10,552  km  new tracks  have  been  commissioned  on  Indian  Railways  which  carry passenger as well freight traffic.

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