Lok Sabha Question No. 1809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: New Railway Projects in Shravasti and Balrampur
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1809

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS IN SHRAVASTI AND BALRAMPUR

## †1809. SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any proposed or approved  railway projects are currently pending in the world famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in  my  Lok  Sabha  constituency  such  as  in  the  border  and socially  backward  aspirational  districts  like  Shravasti  and Balrampur;
- (b) if so, the names of the said projects, date of proposal/sanction, estimated  cost,  progress made  so  far, status  of  expenditure  and  the  main  reasons  for  the  projects lying pending;
- (c) whether there is huge loss to economic development, employment, tourism and industrial prospects due to lack of railway  connectivity  in  the  said  districts  despite  its  being world famous pilgrimage site;
- (d) if  so,  whether  any  specific  proposal,  timeline  or  budgetary provision  has  been  made  to  expedite  completion  of  the  said pending projects; and
- (e) the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): Railway  projects  are  surveyed/sanctioned/executed  Zonal Railway-wise  and  not  State-wise/UT-wise/District-wise/Constituencywise  as  the  Railway  projects  may  span  across  State/UT/District/ Constituency boundaries.

Khalilabad-Bahraich  via  Balrampur  and  Shravasti  (240  km)  new  line project  passes  through  Shravasti  Lok  Sabha  Constituency.    This project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹4940 crore. The project has been  notified  as  'Special  Railway  Project'  for  acquisition  of  land through State Government.

Execution of the work has been planned in 3 phases i.e. Khalilabad to Bansi  (54  km),  Bansi-Shravasti  (113  km)  and  Shravasti  to  Bahraich (73  km).  Major  portion  of  land  acquisition  for  Khalilabad  to  Bansi section has been completed and accordingly work has been taken up. An expenditure of ₹1067 crore has been incurred upto March 2025 and an outlay of ₹421 crore has been provided for this project for the year 2025-26.

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.

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.

Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick 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  etc.  All  these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.

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