Lok Sabha Question No. 795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Proposals/requests for Railway Works in Rajasthan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 795 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## PROPOSALS/REQUESTS FOR RAILWAY WORKS IN RAJASTHAN

†795.   SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the proposals/requests received by the Government from the  Hon.  Members  regarding  railway  works  meant  for  Rajasthan especially for new rail lines, doubling of rail lines, the stoppage of main trains at major stations, connecting main district centres with the rail lines,  the  construction  of  rail  over  bridge  etc.  during  the  last  three years;
- (b) the reaction of the Government to the said proposals/requests and the action taken so far by the Government in this regard;
- the  number  of  proposals/requests  pertaining  to  Rajasthan  that  are
- (c) presently lying pending with the Railways; and
- (d) the reasons for the pendency of the said proposals?

## 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. 795 BY SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING PROPOSALS/REQUESTS FOR RAILWAY WORKS IN RAJASTHAN

(a)  to  (d):  Projects  are  not  sanctioned  State-wise/District-wise/Regionwise/Constituency-wise,  but  sanctioned  Zone  wise  as  Indian  Railways' projects may span across State boundaries.

Proposals/suggestions/representations,  both  formal  and  informal, including  that  from  Hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament,  Ministers  of  Central Government, elected representatives, Railways' own requirements, organizations/rail  users  etc.    are  received  at  various  levels  of  Railway Administration viz. Division, Zonal Headquarter and Railway Board's level for  introduction  of  new  trains,  extension  of  existing  trains,  provision  of stoppages, new lines, Gauge conversion, Doubling, Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges etc., a compendium of which is not maintained.    However,  these  are  examined  and  action  as  found  feasible and justified is taken from time to time.

As on 01.04.2023, 30 Railway infrastructure projects (14 new lines, 05 gauge conversion and 11 doubling), costing ₹  53,045 crore for 4,588 km length falling fully/partly in  Rajasthan  are  under  different  stages  of planning/approval/execution.    Out  of  which  1,037  km  length  has  been commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  ₹  12,364  crore  has  been  incurred upto March 2023. These include:

 14 New Line Projects covering total length of 1,230 km at a cost of ₹ 18,566  crore, out of which 167 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 3,320 crore has been incurred upto March 2023.

-  05 Gauge Conversion Projects covering total length of 1,250 km at a cost of ₹ 8,399 crore, out of which 691 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of  ₹ 4,457 crore has been incurred upto March 2023.
-  11 Doubling Projects covering total length of 2,108 km at a cost of ₹ 26,080 crore, out of which 179 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 4,588 crore has been incurred upto March 2023.

Railway projects in Rajasthan are covered by Northern Railway, North Central Railway,  North  Western Railway, West  Central  Railway  and Western Railway Zones of Indian Railways. Zone wise details of Railway projects,  including  cost,  expenditure  and  outlay  are  made  available  in public domain on Indian Railways website.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in Budget allotment for infrastructure projects and commensurate commissioning. Average annual Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works,  falling fully/partly in the state of Rajasthan is as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay   | Change wrt average allocation during 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹ 682 Cr./Yr     | -                                              |
| 2023-24  | ₹ 9532 Cr.       | Nearly 14 times                                |

Commissioning for infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in Rajasthan is as under:-

| Year    | New Line   | Gauge Conversion   | Doubling   | Total   | Km/Year                                        |
|---------|------------|--------------------|------------|---------|------------------------------------------------|
|         | (in Km)    | (in Km)            | (in Km)    | (in Km) |                                                |
| 2009-14 |            |                    | 62         |         |                                                |
|         | 61         | 675                |            | 798     | 159.6                                          |
| 2014-23 | 1323       | 808                | 1523       | 3654    | 406 (which is 2.54 times more than the average |

Survey of total 50 projects (19 new line and 31 doubling) of total length 4,430 Km falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan have been sanctioned during  last  three  year  (2020-21,  2021-22,  2022-23  and  current  Financial Year 2023-24).

Various  steps  are  taken  by  the  Government  for  effective  and  speedy implementation of railway projects including (i) prioritisation of projects (ii) substantial increase in allocation of funds to projects (iii) delegation  of  powers  at  field  level (iv)  close  monitoring  of progress of project at various levels, and (v) 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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The  timely  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on  various factors  like  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities (both underground and over ground), statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions, encountering unforeseen conditions  like  earthquake,  excessive  rains,  situation  and  conditions  of working agencies/contractors etc. and all these factors affect the completion of the project.

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