Lok Sabha Question No. 1586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Status of Eight New Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1586

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## STATUS OF EIGHT NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS

†1586. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  approved  eight  new  railway projects in August, 2024;
- (b) if  so,  the  names  of  these  projects,  length  and  States  where these projects are located;
- (c) the  budget  and  time  frame  fixed  for  implementation  of  such new projects;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  to  maintain  the  future  pace  of  works being undertaken by the Railways in view of the achievement made by the Government in connecting 5200 Kms the railway tracks in the year, 2023-24;
- (e) the time by which electrification of remaining network is likely to  be  completed  after  the  completion  of  electrification  of 62,119 Km broad gauge network by March, 2024;
- (f) whether  the  Wi-Fi  facility  has  been  started  on  6112  railway stations across the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the  plan  of  the  Government  to  provide  Wi-Fi  facility  on  the remaining railway stations?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1586 BY SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.12.2024 REGARDING STATUS OF EIGHT NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS

(a) to (g): Yes, Sir. The following projects for new rail line has been approved  by  Cabinet  Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  in August' 2024.

|   SN | Name of the Project                                 | Cost (₹ in Crore)   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|    1 | Bikramshila-Katareah                                | 2,171               |
|    2 | Gunupur-Therubali                                   | 1,166               |
|    3 | Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram via Bhadrachalam station | 3,592               |
|    4 | Badampahar-Kendujhargarh                            | 1,876               |
|    5 | Junagarh-Nabarangpur                                | 2,865               |
|    6 | Buramara-Chakulia                                   | 1,460               |
|    7 | Jalna - Jalgaon                                     | 5,804               |
|    8 | Bangriposi-Gorumahisani                             | 2,270               |

The completion of any Railway project 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.

..P/2

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 (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.

## Electrification done during 2014-24 and prior to 2014 is as under:-

| Period        | Electrification Done (in RKM)   |
|---------------|---------------------------------|
| Prior to 2014 | 21,801                          |
| 2014-24       | 44,199                          |

At  present,  about  97%  of  the  total  Broad  Gauge  network  of  the Indian Railways has been electrified.

Indian  Railways  has  decided  to  provide  free  Wi-fi  at  all  feasible Railway stations except halt stations. So far, Wi-fi facility has been provided at 6112 feasible Railway stations.

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