**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Railways' response to Unstarred Question No. 2936, answered on December 17, 2025, regarding the completion of the Panchdevri and Bhatni railway section. The Ministry outlines the challenges faced, primarily land acquisition issues that have halted progress on a section of the Hathua-Panchdeori-Bhatni railway project, despite significant expenditure. No specific deadlines or action items are stated outside of the following information.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Status:**
* The Railway had undertaken the Hathua-Panchdeori-Bhatni (80 km) new line project.
* Expenditure of ₹277 crore has been incurred.
* The Hathua-Panchdeori (31 km) section has been commissioned.
* Work on the Panchdevri to Bhatni section (49 kilometers) is stopped.
* **Reason for Stoppage:**
* Stiff resistance against land acquisition from local villagers.
* Efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, preventing further progress.
* **Factors Influencing Railway Project Completion:**
* Land acquisition
* Forest clearance
* Shifting of infringing utilities
* Statutory clearances from various authorities
* Geological and topographical conditions
* Law and order situation
* Number of working months per year
* **Parameters for Railway Project Sanction:**
* Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness
* First and last mile connectivity
* Connection of missing links and provision of additional route
* Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
* Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public representatives
* Railway's own operational requirements
* Socio-economic considerations
* Overall availability of funds
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Local Villagers**
* **Impact:** The project halt directly impacts local villagers, potentially due to land acquisition issues and resistance.
* **Action Required:** The document does not outline any specific action required.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways/Government**
* **Impact:** The stalled project reflects poorly on the Ministry's ability to complete infrastructure projects on time and within budget. The expenditure of ₹277 crore with incomplete work is a concern.
* **Action Required:** The ministry needs to find a solution to land acquisition and resolve other issues.
**Stakeholder: General Public/Commuters**
* **Impact:** Commuters may face transport issues due to lack of railway infrastructure between Panchdevri and Bhatni.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary ministry responsible for the railway projects discussed in the document.
Panchdevri-Bhatni Railway Section: The railway section whose completion is the subject of the parliamentary question and answer.
Hathua-Panchdeori: Section of the line that has already been commissioned as part of a larger project.
Land acquisition: A factor affecting completion of railway projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2936
ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
COMPLETION OF PANCHDEVRI AND BHATNI RAILWAY SECTION
2936. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the railway tracks work are pending
across the country without achieving the target date decided by the
Ministry of Railways;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that work pertaining to railway track from
Panchdevri to Bhatni consisting 49 kilometers has been stopped
without any specific reasons and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether it is a fact that the Government has not taken any steps
to acquire Panchdevri and Bhatni Section to complete the railway
track and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether it is a fact that the Government has taken suo-moto
decision to not complete the pending railway track work of the
Panchdevri and Bhatni and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government proposes to take action against the
erring official who misguided the Government to stop the railway
track of the Panchdevri to Bhatni and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (f): Railway had taken up Hathua-Panchdeori-Bhatni (80 km)
..P/2-:2:-
new line project. An expenditure of ₹277 crore was also incurred.
Accordingly, Hathua-Panchdeori (31 km) section has been
commissioned so far. For balance section of the project, there was
stiff resistance against land acquisition from local villagers. Several
efforts were made by Railways to resolve the issue, but it could not
be resolved. Therefore, the project could not be taken forward
further.
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which
include the following:
Land acquisition
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for particular project site
etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the
project/s.
Sanction of any railway project depends upon many
parameters/factors which include the following:
Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the
proposed route
First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
Connection of missing links and providing additional route
..P/3-:3:-
Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
Demands raised by State Governments/Central
Ministries/Public representatives,
Railway’s own operational requirements
Socio-economic considerations
Overall availability of funds
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