(a) the present status and project-wise details of various ongoing and pending rail projects in Karnataka;
(b) the number of rail projects running behind the stipulated time-period along with the details thereof;
(c) the names of such approved/ongoing projects in Karnataka State which are likely to be completed or started during the year 2021-22; and
(d) the measures being taken by the Government to expedite completion of these projects?
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.1447 BY SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA, DR. UMESH G. JADHAV, SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE, SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA AND SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.07.2021 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA
(a): Railway projects are sanctioned and taken up Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise as the Indian Railways’ span across various State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2021, 36 Projects costing `56,245 crore for 4,544 km length falling fully/partly in Karnataka are under different stages of planning/ approval/ execution, out of which 1,193 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `15,537 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021. These include-
• 21 New Line Projects covering a length of 2,583 km at a cost of `34,154 crore, out of which 284 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `4,803 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.
• 15 Doubling Projects covering a length of 1,961 km at a cost of `22,091 crore, out of which 909 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of `10,734 crore has been incurred upto March, 2021.
Karnataka is covered by South Western Railway (SWR), Central Railway (CR), Southern Railway (SR) and South Central Railway (SCR). Railway Zone-wise 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.
Average annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure and safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Karnataka, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to `2,702 crore per year from `835 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 224% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. For financial year 2021-22, budget outlay of `4,204 crore has been provided for these works, which is 403% more with respect to average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.
During 2014-21, 1,162 km projects (281 km of New Line and 881 km of Doubling projects) falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka have been commissioned at an average rate 166 km per year, which is 47% more than average commissioning during 2009-14 (113 km/year).
(b) & (c): Completion of a Railway project(s) depends on various factors like expeditious land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc. and all these factors affect the completion time of the project(s), which is finally worked out at the completion stage. Nevertheless, every effort is being made to execute the project(s) expeditiously.
(d): 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 on priority projects (iii) delegation of powers at field level (iv) close monitoring of progress of project at various levels, and (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.
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