Question : REMOTE AREA RAIL SAMPARK YOJANA

(a) whether the ‘Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana’ (RARSY) was announced by the Railways in Rail Budget 2004-05;

(b) if so, the achievements made so far in this project;

(c) the norms, criteria and policy adopted for inclusion of new Railway lines under RARSY;

(d) whether some new Railway lines are proposed to be included during 11th Five Year Plan under RARSY particularly in Fifth Schedule Areas and in the Tribal Areas of Central India; and

(e) if so, the details alongwith the names of the States and the railway lines under consideration for inclusion?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS(SHRI LALU PRASAD)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 312 BY S/SHRI SHRINIWAS DADASAHEB PATIL AND GIRIDHAR GAMANG TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.03.2008 REGARDING REMOTE AREA RAIL SAMPARK YOJANA.

(a) & (b): Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana (RARSY) was announced in the Budget 2004-05 (Vote on Account). However, funding for the Yojana could not be tied up and this scheme has not taken off.

(c): There is no laid down norm or criteria for inclusion of new rail line under RARSY. However, the new line and gauge conversion project valuing about Rs. 20,000 crore were proposed to be funded through this Yojana which otherwise would have remained unfinished due to inadequate funding. A large number of these projects were sanctioned on socio-economic consideration with an aim of connecting remote and backward areas with the rail network.

(d) & (e): No, Sir. The Yojana has not taken off.