Steps To Expedite 484 Projects Underway For Expansion Of Rail Network

Various rail projects including new line, multitracking and gauge conversion are being taken up by the Railways to expand the rail network in the country, Rajya Sabha was told.

According to the data, 484 railway projects of 51,165 km length at an estimated cost of Rs 7.53 lakh crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which 10,638 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of about Rs 2.14 lakh crore has been incurred up to March, 2021.

187 new line projects of 21,037 Km length, costing Rs 4,05,916 crore, out of which commissioning of 2,621 km length has been achieved and expenditure of Rs 1,05,591 crore has been incurred up to March, 2021.

46 Gauge Conversion projects of 6,213 km length, costing Rs 53,171 crore, out of which commissioning of 3,587 km length has been achieved and expenditure of Rs 22,184 crore has been incurred up to March, 2021.

251 doubling projects of 23,915 Km length, costing Rs 2,93,471 crore, out of which commissioning of 4,430 km length has been achieved and expenditure of Rs 86,041 crore has been incurred up to March, 2021.

The completion of any railway project depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance, deposition of cost share by State Government in cost sharing projects, priority of projects, 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 other factors affect the completion time and cost of the project(s), which is finally worked out at the completion stage.

However, the Railways is making all the efforts for expeditious completion of projects, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Various steps being taken by the government for effective and speedy implementation of rail projects include prioritisation of projects, substantial increase in allocation of funds on priority projects, delegation of powers at field level, close monitoring of progress of project at various levels, and 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.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in budget allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects. The Average Annual Budget allocation in the Indian Railways for New Line, Gauge Conversion and doubling works during 2014-19 has increased to Rs 26,026 crore per year from Rs 11,527 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 126 per cent more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

The Annual Budget allocation for these projects for Financial Year 2019-20 was Rs 39,836 crore (246 per cent more than average annual budget allocation during 2009-14) and Rs 43,626 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (278 per cent more than the Average Annual Budget allocation during 2009-14).

For the financial year 2021-22, highest-ever budget outlay of Rs 52,398 crore has been provided for these works, which is 355 per cent more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During 2014-21, 17,720 km length (3,681 km New Line, 4,871 km Gauge Conversion and 9,168 km Doubling) has been commissioned at an average of 2,531 km per year which is 67 per cent more than the average commissioning during 2009-14 (1520 km/year).