(a) the present status of the Guna-Etawah railway project;
(b) whether the project is running as per schedule, if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of financial burden suffered by the Railways due to delay in said project; and
(d) the time by which the said project is likely to be completed?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS(SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) : The Guna-Bhind (308.43 km) section of the project has already been completed and commissioned. Work on the remaining 36.39 km portion (from Bhind to Etawah) has been taken up.
(b) : No, Madam. There has been delay in transfer of land for Bhind-Etawah portion of the project by the State Govts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Work on this section was also held up as the requisite forestry clearance was not received. There has been failure of contracts for construction of super-structure of important bridges of the section.
(c) : There has been cost over-run of the project due to delay in availability of land, escalation and other factors. The estimated cost of Bhind-Etawah portion is now Rs. 356.86 crore.
(d) : The project is likely to be completed by 2011-12.