Lok Sabha Question No. 633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Railway Projects in Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 633 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

633.  SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  status  of  ongoing  and  pending  railway  projects  in various  railway  zones  in  Maharashtra,  especially  in  Thane parliamentary constituency;
- (b) the details of funds allocated and released for the development of these projects;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure timely completion of these projects; and
- (d) if so, the details 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.  633  BY  SHRI  RAJAN  VICHARE  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  06.12.2023  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

(a) to (d): Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway-wise  and not  State-wise  as  Indian  Railways'  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries.  However,  as  on  01.04.2023,  34  Railway  infrastructure projects  (16  New  Line,  02  Gauge  Conversion  and  16  Doubling),  of total  length  of  5,872  km  costing  ₹80,184  crore  falling  fully/partly  in the State of Maharashtra including those falling fully/partly in Thane Parliamentary  Constituency,  are  in  planning/approval/construction stages, out of which 1,421 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure  of  ₹23,964  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March  2023. These include-

- (i) 16 New Line projects of total length of 2,017 km costing ₹38,423 crore, out of which 93 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹6,052 crore has been incurred upto March 2023.
- (ii) 2  Gauge  Conversion  projects  of  total  length  of  580  km  costing ₹7,339 crore, out of which 283 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹2,791 crore has been incurred upto March 2023.
- (iii) 16 Doubling projects of total length of 3,275 km costing ₹34,422 crore, out of which 1045 km length has been commissioned and an  expenditure  of  ₹15,121  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March 2023.

Railway infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Maharashtra are covered in Central Railway, South Central Railway, South  East  Central  Railway,  South  Western  Railway  and  Western Railway Zones of Indian Railways. Zone-wise and Year-wise details of railway  projects  including  their  cost,  source  of  funds,  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.

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  State  of  Maharashtra  is  as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay   | Percentage more as compared to average allocation during 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹1171 crore/year | -                                                                  |
| 2014-23  | ₹6493 crore/year | 455% more                                                          |
| 2023-24  | ₹13539 crore     | 1056% more                                                         |

During 2014-23, 1,472 km sections (147 km New Line, 136 km Gauge Conversion and 1,189 km Doubling), falling fully/partly  in  the State of Maharashtra, have been commissioned at an average rate of 163.56  km  per  year,  which  is  180%  more  than  average  annual commissioning during 2009-14 (58.4 km/year).

Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like 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.

Various steps taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation  of  rail  projects  include  (i)  substantial  increase  in allocation of funds, (ii) delegation of powers at field level, (iii) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels (iv) 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.

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