Lok Sabha Question No. 412 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Railways and Road Infrastructure Projects in 
North-Eastern Region
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 412

To be answered on

Wednesday, July 24, 2024/2 Shravan, 1946 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Railways and Road Infrastructure Projects in North-Eastern Region

## 412.   SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the Railway Projects and Road infrastructure Projects that have been constructed in the North-Eastern Region during the last five years;
- (b) the amount of budget/funds allocated for the Railway and Road Projects in this region, and
- (c) the  anticipated  degree  to  which  the  Rail  and  Road  Infrastructure  Projects  will boost the economy of the North-Eastern States?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [ Dr. Sukanta Majumdar ]

## (a) and (b)

##  Railway projects

As  on  01.04.2024,  18  Railway  infrastructure projects (13  New  Line,  05 Doubling),  of  total  length  of  1,368  km  costing  ₹74,972  crore  falling  fully/partly  in  the North Eastern Region are in planning/ approval / construction stages, out of which 313 km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  ₹40,549  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2024.

In order to speedy completion of these Railway projects and to boost the economy of  North  Eastern  States  since  2014,  there  has  been  substantial  increase  in  fund allocation  and  commensurate  commissioning  of  projects  across  Indian  Railways. Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works  falling  fully/partly  in  the North Eastern Region is as under:-

| Period   | Budget Outlay            | Percentage more as compared to average allocation during 2009-14   |
|----------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹2,122 crore/year        | -                                                                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹10,376 crore (Proposed) | 389% more                                                          |

During 2014-24, 1,728 km sections (377 km New Line, 972 km Gauge Conversion and  379  km  Doubling),  falling  fully/partly  in  the  North  Eastern  Region,  have  been commissioned  at  an  average  rate  of  172.8  km  per  year,  which  is  159%  more  than average annual commissioning during 2009-14 (66.6 km/year).

##  Road projects:

A  total  of  6806  km  of  National  Highway  Network  has  been  developed  by  the Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways during last  five  years  (i.e.  2019-2023)  at  a cost of Rs.77654 crore  in North Eastern Region.

In addition, the Ministry of DoNER under Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North  East  Region  (PM-DevINE),  North  East  Special  Infrastructure  Development Scheme (NESIDS) and North East  Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) has sanctioned 80 road projects amounting to Rs 5894.44 crore during last five years.

- (c) Benefits of Railway and Road infrastructure projects in the North East Region, inter-alia, include integration of people of North-East with the mainstream of the country, faster movement  of the essential goods and agriculture products, increase in employment opportunities for the people of this region, socio-economic development of the  area,  development  of  tourism  industry  and  increase  in  industrial  activities  in  the region and thereby boosting the overall economy of the North-Eastern States.

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