Question : RAILWAY PROJECTS

(a) the total length of railway lines laid in the country since independence, State-wise;

(b) whether the Railways have been announcing the projects in the country without assessing the resources resulting in long pendency;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken/being taken in this regard;

(d) whether the Railways propose to pay special attention to the railway projects pending in hilly States particularly Himachal Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the present status of ongoing/pending railway projects in Himachal Pradesh along with the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(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. 998 BY SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR AND SHRI VIRENDER KASHYAP TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.07.2014 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS.

(a): State-wise details of length of Railway lines laid in the country since Independence are not maintained. However, Indian Railways has expanded its network and executed a large number of capacity enhancement works since Independence.

Since 1951, the network expansions works of more than 55,000 kilometres (including 15,076 kilometres New Lines, 22,667 kilometres gauge conversion and 17,871 kilometres doubling) have been completed.

(b) & (c): It is fact that Railways have a huge throw forward of ongoing projects and limited availability of funds to complete them. However, respecting public aspirations, Railways have been sanctioning new railway projects based on a large number of demands from public representatives, State Governments etc.

(d) & (e): Status of ongoing Railway projects falling fully/partly in Himachal Pradesh are as under:-

	(Rs. in crores) Project	Latest	Expendi	Outlay	Progress	anticipa	-ture upto	proposed	55% Nangaldam-Amb Andaura	-ted cost	March 2014	for 2014-15	section (44 kms.) Nangal - Talwara new	1036.78	365.84	20	line (83.74 kms.)	commissioned Bhanupalli - Bilaspur	2966.98	40.74	10	5% (Geo-technical studies -Beri new line	of the alignment taken up). (63.1 kms.) Chandigarh - Baddi New	328.14	0.19	4	Final location survey line (33.23 kms.)	taken up.