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 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4571 BY SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH TO BE
ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.12.2012 REGARDING SURVEY AND OTHER PROJECTS.
(a): 441 number of surveys for new lines were announced during Railway Budgets 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 & 2012-13.
State-wise data is not maintained since surveys are sanctioned Railway-wise. Zone-wise details of surveys are given below:-
S.No. Railway Number of new line survey announced Number of surveys completed
1 Central 21 5
2 Eastern 33 29
3 East Central 6 -
4 East Coast 14 -
5 Northern 49 34
6 North Central 13 5
7 North Eastern 23 10
8 Northeast Frontier 36 31
9 North Western 35 19
10 Southern 30 9
11 South Central 30 15
12 South Eastern 24 18
13 South East Central 43 5
14 South Western 31 16
15 Western 36 6
16 West Central 17 2
Total 441 204
(b): For carrying out above surveys, expenditure of Rs. 47.65 Crore has been incurred upto March, 2012. An outlay of
Rs. 26.8 Crore has also been provided for the year 2012-13 for carrying out surveys.
(c): Gauge conversion of Saharsa-Forbesganj (110.74 Km) – Saharsa-Forbesganj is part of Sakri-Laukha Bazar-Nirmali
& Saharsa-Forbesganj (206.06 Km) Gauge Conversion project which was included in the Railway Budget for year 2003-04
with an estimated cost of Rs. 355.81 Cr. An expenditure of Rs. 196.39 Crore has been incurred upto March, 2012. An
outlay of Rs. 10 Crore has been provided for this project during 2012-13. Project is progressing as per availability of
resources.
Araria-Galgalia (Thakurganj) (100 Km), New Line – The project was included in the Railway Budget during 2006-07 with an
estimated cost of Rs. 532.87 Cr. An expenditure of Rs. 37.89 Crore has been incurred on this project upto March, 2012.
An outlay of Rs. 10 Crore has been provided for this project during 2012-13. Project is progressing as per availability of
resources.
Araria-Supaul (92 Km), New Line – The project was included in the Railway Budget 2008-09 at an estimated cost of
Rs. 304.41 Cr. An outlay of Rs. 1 Crore has been provided for this project during 2012-13. Project is progressing as per
availability of resources.
(d): Railways have huge throwforward of ongoing projects with limited availability of resources, as a result, funds are
thinly spread for ongoing projects. Time frame for execution of project is not feasible to be fixed due to factors that
could not be anticipated at the time of sanction of project such as:-
(i) Delays in land acquisition and forestry clearances;
(ii) Adverse law and order conditions and other market forces;
(iii) Failure of contracts; and
(iv) Technological changes, improved standard of construction and other changes in scope of work due to change in traffic
pattern etc.
In view of the stated reasons, targets for completion of projects are fixed every year. Depending upon their progress and
relative priority, projects get completed.
(e): To expedite completion of projects, a number of initiatives have been taken to generate additional resources through
non-budgetary measures like funding by State Governments and other beneficiaries, execution of projects through Rail Vikas
Nigam Limited on SPV basis etc.
Besides, to reduce delays on account of land acquisition, security issues and forestry clearances etc, meetings with State
Officials at various levels are held from time to time. Field units have been empowered with further delegation of powers
and the contract conditions have been modified to bring efficiency in contract management. Security, land acquisition and
environment issues are also taken up with State Governments and Ministry of Environment & Forest for early approvals.
