Question : NATIONAL PROJECTS

(a) the norms prescribed by the Railways for declaration of railway projects as National Projects and the funding pattern for such projects;

(b) the name of the railway projects which have been declared as National Projects in the past;

(c) the details and the present status of work on new railway line projects on Bilaspur-Leh, Srinagar-Kargil, Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri, Baddi-Kalka, Ghanauli-Baddi and Chandigarh-Baddi sections;

(d) the details and the present status of funding pattern worked out for the said projects including sharing of cost with the concerned States; and

(e) whether the Government of Himachal Pradesh has requested for an alternate alignment of Chandigarh-Baddi routes, if so, the details and the present status thereof and the other steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)

(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. 120 BY SHRI HASSAN KHAN AND SHRIMATI PRATIBHA SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.12.2013 REGARDING NATIONAL PROJECTS

(a) & (b): As per the policy laid down by Govt. of India “projects important from strategic viewpoints in Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern Region or developmental projects which result in greater integration of these regions with the rest of India can be categorized as “National Projects”. The concept is not extendable to other regions of the country. A uniform funding pattern for all those projects is to be followed as per directives issued by Prime Minister’s Office.

There are 12 railway projects which have been declared as National Projects, comprising 1 project in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 projects of North Eastern Region are in the vicinity of border areas and are identified as railway projects in border areas with strategic importance. Out of these, 1 project viz. Kumarghat -Agartala new line has already been completed as Meter Gauge section. The details of remaining ongoing 11 National Projects is appended. These projects are being executed as per availability of resources.

(c) & (d): Bilaspur-Manali-Leh, new line: The project is not yet sanctioned. A Note for Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was sent for Inter-ministerial consultations for sanctioning of this project to be fully funded by Ministry of Finance. But the proposal was not supported by Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission.

Srinagar-Kargil, new line: The survey for the above new line project has been sanctioned and survey work taken up.

Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri new line: This 63 Km new line project was sanctioned in 2008-09 and land acquisition & earthwork taken up in first 4 Km. As per approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government of Himachal Pradesh is to bear 25% cost of project and to provide for increase in land cost beyond intial provision of Rs. 70 crore. Government of Himachal Pradesh is not agreeing to share cost as per approval and funding issue has been taken up with State Government.

Baddi-Kalka, new line (19.9 km): Survey of this project is completed. As per survey report, estimated cost of the project is Rs. 385.45 crore with Rate of Return (-) 3.68%.

Ghanauli-Baddi, new line (26.30 km): Survey of this project is completed. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.541.27 crore with Rate of Return (-) 3.44%.

Chandigarh-Baddi, new line: Work sanctioned in 2007-08. Project is being funded through railway gross budgetary support. The project could not take off initially as the alignment was passing through rich forest areas and the required land was not available. Examination of alternative alignment has been taken up.

(e): When the Chandigarh-Baddi new line project was stuck up, Government of Himachal Pradesh requested for examination of Ghanauli-Baddi and Kalka-Baddi new line surveys. Necessary approval for those projects has not been received from Planning Commission.