(a) whether the Planning Commission has decided to grant in- principle approval to
the new railway line proposals of only those states which provide land free of cost and
share 50 percent of the cost of construction from 2013-14 onward;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether proposals of many states are pending on account of this and if so, the
details thereof, State-wise;
(d) whether States have been consulted in this regard; and
(e) if so, the reaction of the States in this regard ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS & PLANNING
(SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA)
(a) & (b): The guidelines issued by the Planning Commission for grant of In-principle
Approval (IPA) for Railway projects during the 12th Five Year Plan in August 2013
stipulate that for new projects to be undertaken by the Ministry of Railways in
partnership with State Governments, a suitable scheme may be devised to be applicable
to State/UT Governments indicating commitment of land and funding to be made
available by the State. There are no specific stipulations for provision of land and funding
by State in these guidelines.
(c) to (e) According to available information, there are 37 Railway projects that have
already been sanctioned in partnership with various State Governments and these are
presently at various stages of implementation with different commitments for funding
and provision of land as decided after consultations. So far as new and prospective
projects in partnership with State Governments are concerned, the extant guidelines
clearly state that the commitment of the stakeholders shall be in the form of a prescribed
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) after due consultations.