(a) the current status of railway projects in Rajasthan including Sirohi districts for which survey has been conducted and approval has been accorded but they have not been started as yet;
(b) if so, district-wise/project-wise details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to speed up the work of approved railway projects in Rajasthan?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2209 BY SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.03.2020 REGARDING SURVEY OF RAILWAY PROJECTS
(a) and (b): Projects are sanctioned Zone-wise not State-wise. However, presently 31 projects costing `46,994 crore for 4,663 Km length falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan are under different stages of planning/approval/execution.
11 new line projects covering a length of 1,238 Km at a cost of `15,303 crore. Out of which 69 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `1,543 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019. Budget Estimate outlay of `445 crore has been provided for 2019-20.
6 gauge conversion project, covering a length of 1,637 Km at a cost of `12,992 crore. Out of which, 664 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `2,349 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019. Budget Estimate outlay of `743 crore has been provided for 2019-20.
14 doubling projects covering a length of 1,789 Km at a cost of `18,699 crore. Out of which, 137 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `2,475 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019. Budget Estimate outlay of `1067 crore has been provided for 2019-20.
Project-wise details, expenditure incurred thereon and outlay provided are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in >Ministry of Railway >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance (Budget).
Average Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to `2951 crore per year, from `682 crore per year (during 2009-14). Thus, the average annual budget allocation during 2014-19 is 433% of average annual budget allocation of 2009-14 (`682 crore per year).
Budget allotment for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan for financial year 2019-20 is `4686 crore, which is 687% of average budget outlay of 2009-14.
During 2009-14, 798 Km length (61 Km New Line, 675 Km Gauge Conversion and 62 Km Doubling) has been commissioned in the State of Rajasthan at an average rate of 160 Km per year.
During 2014-19, 1516 Km (80 Km New Line, 483 Km Gauge Conversion and 953 Km Doubling) has been commissioned in the State of Rajasthan at an average rate of 303 Km per year, which is 190% of commissioning during 2009-14.
Further, survey for Sirohi-Marwar Bagra-Pindwara and Jalore-Sirohi Road-Udaipur new line projects were completed in the year 2017-18. Both the projects could not be taken forward for execution being financially unviable.
(c): In the overall interest of the Nation and to ensure that the projects are completed in time without cost overrun, lot of monitoring is done in Railways at various levels (field level, Divisional level, zonal level and Board level) and regular meetings are held with the officials of State Government and concerned authorities to resolve the pending issues that are obstructing the progress of projects.
To ensure that projects are completed even before time, Railway has adopted the concept of incentives to the contractor in the form of bonus clause in contracts which will further enhance the pace of execution of project.
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