Executive Summary:
This document is the Minister of Railways' response to a parliamentary question regarding railway projects in Shravasti and Balrampur. It details the status of the Khalilabad-Bahraich new line project, which passes through the Shravasti Lok Sabha Constituency. The project is underway with land acquisition and phased execution, with an outlay of ₹421 crore provided for 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
Project Scope and Status:
* Railway projects are surveyed, sanctioned, and executed Zonal Railway-wise, not by state, district, or constituency.
* The Khalilabad-Bahraich new line project (240 km) passes through the Shravasti Lok Sabha Constituency.
* The sanctioned cost of the project is ₹4940 crore.
* The project has been notified as a Special Railway Project for land acquisition.
* Execution is planned in three phases: Khalilabad to Bansi (54 km), Bansi to Shravasti (113 km), and Shravasti to Bahraich (73 km).
* Major land acquisition has been completed for the Khalilabad to Bansi section, and work has commenced.
* Expenditure up to March 2025 is ₹1067 crore.
* An outlay of ₹421 crore has been provided for the project for the year 2025-26.
Project Approval and Implementation Factors:
* Railway projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, connectivity, route augmentation, state demands, operational requirements, socio-economic considerations and availability of funds.
* Government initiatives for speedy project implementation include:
* Setting up Gati Shakti units.
* Prioritization of projects.
* Increased funding for priority projects.
* Delegation of powers at the field level.
* Close monitoring of progress.
* Regular follow-up with State Governments for land acquisition and clearances.
Project Completion Dependencies:
* Completion depends on land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and working months available.
Impact Analysis:
State Government:
* Impact: Responsible for quick land acquisition for the project.
* Action Required: Expedite land acquisition, forestry and wildlife clearances, and resolve other project-related issues.
Railway Authorities:
* Impact: Responsible for project execution and monitoring.
* Action Required: Monitor project progress, ensure efficient fund allocation, and coordinate with relevant authorities.
Local Communities (Shravasti and Balrampur):
* Impact: Potential beneficiaries of improved railway connectivity.
* Action Required: No direct action specified, but may need to cooperate with land acquisition processes.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA: Member of Parliament who raised the question about railway projects.
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS: The government position responsible for railways, held by SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The current Minister of Railways, also holding portfolios for Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh: Aspirational district and Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, known as a Buddhist pilgrimage site, where railway projects are under consideration.
Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh: Aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh, along with Shravasti, mentioned in the context of pending railway projects.
Khalilabad-Bahraich new line project: A 240 km railway project passing through Shravasti Lok Sabha Constituency, sanctioned at a cost of 4940 crore.
Gati Shakti: A government initiative with units set up for speedy approval and implementation of Railway projects.
Khalilabad to Bansi: First phase of Khalilabad-Bahraich new line project spanning 54 km.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1809
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS IN SHRAVASTI AND BALRAMPUR
†1809. SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether any proposed or approved railway projects are
currently pending in the world famous Buddhist pilgrimage site
in my Lok Sabha constituency such as in the border and
socially backward aspirational districts like Shravasti and
Balrampur;
(b) if so, the names of the said projects, date of
proposal/sanction, estimated cost, progress made so far,
status of expenditure and the main reasons for the projects
lying pending;
(c) whether there is huge loss to economic development,
employment, tourism and industrial prospects due to lack of
railway connectivity in the said districts despite its being
world famous pilgrimage site;
(d) if so, whether any specific proposal, timeline or budgetary
provision has been made to expedite completion of the said
pending projects; and
(e) the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal
Railway-wise and not State-wise/UT-wise/District-wise/Constituency-
wise as the Railway projects may span across State/UT/District/
Constituency boundaries.
Contd…2/--2-
Khalilabad-Bahraich via Balrampur and Shravasti (240 km) new line
project passes through Shravasti Lok Sabha Constituency. This
project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹4940 crore. The project has
been notified as “Special Railway Project” for acquisition of land
through State Government.
Execution of the work has been planned in 3 phases i.e. Khalilabad to
Bansi (54 km), Bansi-Shravasti (113 km) and Shravasti to Bahraich
(73 km). Major portion of land acquisition for Khalilabad to Bansi
section has been completed and accordingly work has been taken up.
An expenditure of ₹1067 crore has been incurred upto March 2025 and
an outlay of ₹421 crore has been provided for this project for the year
2025-26.
Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,
traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate
routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by
State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other
public representatives, Railway’s own operational requirement, socio-
economic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing
projects and overall availability of funds.
Various steps taken by the Government for speedy approval and
implementation of Railway projects include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti
units (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase in allocation
of funds on priority projects (iv) delegation of powers at field level (v)
close monitoring of progress of project at various levels, and (vi)
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. This has led to
substantial increase in rate of commissioning since 2014.
Contd…3/--3-
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick
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 etc. All these
factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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