(a) whether several ongoing railway projects are getting delayed for their completion due to which their cost is steeply escalating;
(b) if so, the details of such projects, zone-wise and the reasons for their delay;
(c) the detail of the funds spent on the said projects till date; and
(d) the steps taken by the Railways to complete these projects immediately to have a check on any further cost escalation?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) and (b): At present, 505 Railway projects including 185 New Lines, 57 Gauge Conversion and 263 Doubling Projects are in different stages of execution/planning/sanction. The completion of Railway projects requires acquisition of land, shifting of utilities, various statutory clearances etc. leading to cost overrun.
(c): The details of all works in progress and new works including funds spent on each project, allotment of funds and expenditure are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in and are also available in Pink Books presented before the House along with Budget every year.
(d): Railways is holding regular meetings with State Government and concerned Central Government officials on various issues for timely completion of the projects. For capacity enhancement projects, institutional financing has been done by arranging loan from M/s Life Insurance Corporation of India Limited for ` 1.5 lakh crore, which has increased Railways’ capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects.
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