(a) the details of tribal dominated district headquarters of the country especially in Uttar Pradesh which are yet to be connected with rail network;
(b) whether steps have been taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to connect these tribal dominated district headquarters with rail network;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2411 BY DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.03.2022 REGARDING CONNECTIVITY WITH TRIBAL DOMINATED DISTRICTS.
(a) to (d): The Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise, District wise or area wise as the Railways’ projects may span across State/District/Area boundaries. Sanction of new railway lines in areas which are not connected by Railway network including tribal dominated areas is a continuous and ongoing process of Indian Railways.
As on 01.04.2021, 187 New line projects of 21,037 km length, costing `4,05,916 crore across Indian Railways are in various stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which commissioning of 2,621 km length has been achieved and expenditure of `1,05,591 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. These new line projects improve connectivity to areas which are not connected with Railway network including tribal dominated areas.
As on 01.04.2021, 16 New Line projects of a total length of 1743 km, costing `29,060 crore falling fully/partly in Uttar Pradesh are under different stages of planning/ approval/ execution, out of which 260 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `4,456 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.
Projects in Uttar Pradesh are covered by Northern Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, East Central Railway and West Central Railway zones of Indian Railways.
Details of all ongoing Railway projects including cost, expenditure 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) >Rail Budget/Pink Book (Year)> Railway wise Works Machinery and Rolling Stock Programme.
Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects. Average Annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Uttar Pradesh, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to `5,278 crore per year from `1,109 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 376% more than Average Annual Budget allocation during 2009-14. These allocations have increased to `8,403 crore in Financial Year 2019-20 (658% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14) and `8,576 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (673% more than the Average Annual Budget allocation of 2009-14). For Financial Year 2021-22, highest ever budget outlay of `14,128 crore has been provided for these projects, which is 1,174% more than the Average Annual Budget outlay of 2009-14 (`1,109 crore per year).
During 2014-21, 17720 km sections (3681 km of New Line, 4871 km of Gauge Conversion and 9168 km of Doubling) have been commissioned in the country at an average rate 2531.43 km per year, which is 67% more than average commissioning during 2009-14 (1520 km/year).
During 2014-21, 2032 Km sections (204 km of New line, 631 km of Gauge conversion and 1197 km of Doubling ) falling fully/partly in the state of Uttar Pradesh have been commissioned at an average rate 290.29 km per year, which is 46% more than commissioning during 2009-14 (199.2 Km/Yr).
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