(a) the current status of railway projects in Bihar, district/project-wise including Jehanabad, Gaya and Arwal districts for which survey has been conducted and approval has been accorded but they have not been started as yet;
(b) the sanctioned budgetary allocation for the same; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to speed up the work of approved railway projects in Bihar?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3498 BY SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI AND SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.03.2021 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN BIHAR
(a) and (b): Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise/distrtict-wise as Indian Railways’ network spans across various State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2020, 57 projects (35 new lines, 05 gauge conversions and 17 doublings), costing ?74,880 crore, covering a length of 5267 Km, falling fully/partly in the State of Bihar are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which 1306 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ?22,123 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020.
Since 2014-15, 17 projects of 1180 Km length costing ?13,259 crore, falling fully/partly in Bihar, have been completed and commissioned and also, during this period 18 projects of 1,412 Km length costing ?16,833 crore, falling fully/partly in Bihar, have been included in Budget.
Average annual Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Bihar during 2014-19, has increased to ?3,061 crore per year from ?1,132 crore per year (during 2009-14), which is 170% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14 and budget outlay of ?4,489 crore was provided for financial year 2020-21 which is 297% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. For financial year 2021-22, highest-ever budget outlay of ?5150 crore has been provided for these works which is 355% more with respect to average budget outlay of 2009-14.
During 2014-19, 695 Km length (240 Km New Lines, 280 Km Gauge Conversion and 175 Km Doubling) projects falling fully/partly in the State of Bihar has been commissioned which is 119% more than the commissioning during 2009-14 (318 Km). During 2019-20, 231 Km length (64 Km New Lines, 45 Km Gauge Conversion and 122 Km Doubling) has been commissioned which is 261% more than average commissioning during 2009-14 (63.6 Km/year).
Project-wise detail including cost, expenditure incurred and outlay are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in > Ministry of Railways > Railway Board > About Indian Railways > Railway Board Directorates > Finance (Budget) > Pink Book (Year) > Railway-wise Works, Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme (RSP) .
(c): Various steps being taken by the Government for effective and speedy implementation of rail projects include (i) prioritisation of projects, (ii) substantial increase in allocation of funds, (iii) delegation of powers at field level, (iv) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels (v) regular follow up with State Governments and concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition, forestry and Wildlife clearances and for resolving other issues pertaining to projects.
*****