Question : Dedicated Freight Corridors

(a) whether the Government has approved and sanctioned major and capital intensive rail infrastructure projects as part of the year 2022 deadline and if so, the details thereof along with the details of works completed in each segment including the status of such projects in Kerala;

(b) whether the Government has also expedited the works of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the DFC comprises of southern States of India including Kerala, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the reasons, if any, for the delay in completion of DFC; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to resolve the issues at all places particularly for the stretch in Uttar Pradesh to meet the deadline of target including fixing of responsibility of officials for the delay in completion of DFC?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 175 BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDORS

(a): Yes, Sir. Augmentation of capacity of rail infrastructure is a top priority for the Government. A large number of New Line, Gauge Conversion, Doubling, Railway Electrification projects including two dedicated freight corridors have been sanctioned. As on date, 491 Railway projects including 189 New Lines, 55 Gauge Conversion and 247 Doubling Projects are in different stages of execution/ planning/sanction. The total length of these projects is 48860.64 kms., costing ? 6.476 lakh crores. In addition, 70 railway electrification projects comprising 31,760 kms length costing ? 34,167 crores have also been sanctioned. Completion of many projects/programmes like Railway Electrification, Gauge Conversion of identified viable lines, Eastern & Western dedicated freight corridors have been targeted by/before the year 2022.

09 projects costing ? 8,317 crores for 458 kms length falling fully/partly in Kerala state are under different stages of planning/ approval/execution, which include 02 new line projects covering a length of 151 kms at a cost of ? 3,293 crores and 07 doubling projects covering a length of 307 kms at a cost of ? 5,024 crores. Till March, 2019, commissioning of 8kms length has been achieved with expenditure of ? 987.6 crores. 04 Railway Electrification projects (190 Route Kilometers) worth ? 178 crores have also been sanctioned in Kerala.

(b): Yes, Sir. All contracts worth approximately ? 32,000 crores for western DFC and all contracts worth approximately ? 22,000 crores for eastern DFC (except for 3 contracts worth approximately ? 1500 crores for Systems) have already been awarded. Regular monitoring of progress of the works and constant coordination/follow-up with all stakeholders including State Governments and Zonal Railways have been done to expedite the pace of progress.

(c): No, Sir. Presently only two Dedicated Freight Corridors, namely Eastern and Western Freight Corridors have been sanctioned by the Government.

(d) & (e) : Steps taken to fast-track the execution of DFC projects in line with the target include :-

(i) Regular follow-up with State Governments to address the concerns of the project affected persons and expedite the acquisition of land;

(ii) Regular follow-up and coordination with all stake holders for construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROBs) and Rail Under Bridges (RUBs) in place of level crossings and for shifting/removal of utilities; and

(iii) Regular monitoring of the works of the contractors and resolution of emergent issues for project execution.

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