Executive Summary:
This document provides details on railway projects in India, including Rajasthan, as of April 1, 2025. It outlines the criteria for sanctioning projects, the current status of ongoing projects, budget allocations, and steps taken to ensure timely completion. The information was provided in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1762 on July 30, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Project Sanctioning:**
* Railway projects are sanctioned zone-wise, based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, connectivity, congestion, state demands, and socio-economic factors.
* **National Project Status (as of April 1, 2025):**
* 431 infrastructure projects (154 New Line, 33 Gauge Conversion, 244 Doubling) are sanctioned, totaling 35,966 km at an approximate cost of ₹6.75 lakh crore.
* 12,769 km has been commissioned, with expenditures of approximately ₹2.91 lakh crore.
* **Budget Allocation:**
* The average annual budget allocation for New Line, Gauge Conversion, and Doubling Projects has increased from ₹11,527 crore/year (2009-14) to ₹68,785 crore (2025-26).
* **Project Status in Rajasthan (as of April 1, 2025):**
* 28 projects (13 New Lines, 5 Gauge Conversions, 10 Doubling) are sanctioned, totaling 3409 km at a cost of ₹43,918 crore.
* 1238 km has been commissioned, with expenditures of ₹18,954 crore.
* **Completed Projects in Rajasthan:**
* Lists eight recently completed doubling projects in Rajasthan, including Ajmer-Bangurgram and Bina-Kota.
* **Ongoing Projects in Rajasthan:**
* Lists ten ongoing projects in Rajasthan, including the Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road new line and the Ajmer-Chanderiya Doubling.
* **Factors Affecting Project Completion:**
* Completion depends on land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, statutory clearances, geological conditions, and law and order.
* **Government Measures for Speedy Implementation:**
* Gati Shakti units.
* Prioritization of projects.
* Increased funding.
* Delegation of powers.
* Close monitoring.
* Regular follow-up with State Governments.
Impact Analysis:
* **Ministry of Railways:**
* Impact: Responsible for the planning, sanctioning, and execution of railway projects. Accountable for project timelines and cost management.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring project progress, addressing bottlenecks, and ensuring efficient fund allocation.
* **Zonal Railways (North Western Railway, Northern Railway, North Central Railway, West Central Railway and Western Railway):**
* Impact: Responsible for executing railway projects within their respective zones, including those falling in Rajasthan.
* Action Required: Implement projects according to sanctioned plans, coordinate with state governments for land acquisition and clearances, and ensure timely completion.
* **State Governments (including Rajasthan):**
* Impact: Crucial for providing land, facilitating clearances, and maintaining law and order to enable smooth project execution.
* Action Required: Expedite land acquisition, assist in obtaining forest and wildlife clearances, and address any local issues that may delay project progress.
* **Project Contractors:**
* Impact: Responsible for the on-ground construction and implementation of railway projects.
* Action Required: Execute projects according to the agreed timelines and specifications, manage resources effectively, and coordinate with relevant authorities to address any challenges.
* **Citizens/Public:**
* Impact: Benefit from improved railway infrastructure, connectivity, and transportation services.
* Action Required: None specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the country's railway transport.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Rajasthan: A state in India where several railway projects are underway.
Indian Railways: The state-owned railway company of India.
North Western Railway: A zonal railway of Indian Railways. Covers projects falling in Rajasthan.
Gati Shakti: A Government initiative aimed at infrastructure development and project implementation.
Ajmer-Bangurgram Doubling: A railway doubling project in Rajasthan.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1762
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
RAILWAY PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING
RAJASTHAN
†1762. SMT. MANJU SHARMA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the various rail projects in the country including
Rajasthan, Zone and project-wise;
(b) the details of the number of the projects legging behind their
prescribed time limit along with the reasons therefor, project-
wise;
(c) the extent to which cost of each pending project has
increased; and
(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to
complete the above mentioned projects within prescribed or
extended time limit?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal
Railway wise and not State-wise/Constituency wise as the Railway
projects may span across State boundaries.
..P/2-:2:-
Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,
traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links (including
infrastructure gaps) 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.
As on 01.04.2025, across Indian Railways, 431 Railway
infrastructure projects (154 New Line, 33 Gauge Conversion and 244
Doubling) of total length 35,966 Km, costing approx. 6.75 lakh crore
are sanctioned, out of which, 12,769 Km length has been
commissioned and an expenditure of approx. 2.91 lakh crore has
been incurred upto March, 2025. The summary is as under:-
Total Length
Total Exp
No of Length Commissioned
Category upto Mar'25
Projects NL/GC/DL till Mar'25
( in Crore)
(km) (Km)
New Lines 154 16,142 3,036 1,45,318
Gauge
33 4,180 2,997 22,753
Conversion
Doubling/
244 15,644 6,736 1,22,858
Multitracking
Total 431 35,966 12,769 2,90,929
..P/3-:3:-
The Average Annual Budget allocation for New Line, Gauge
Conversion and Doubling Projects across Indian Railways is given
below:
Period Outlay
2009-14 11,527 crore/year
2025-26 68,785 crore (Nearly 6 times)
The details of commissioning/laying of new track across Indian
Railways is given below:-
New track
Period Average commissioning of new tracks
Commissioned
2009-14 7,599 Km 4.2 Km/day
2014-25 34,428 Km 8.57 Km/day (more than 2 times)
Railway infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of
Rajasthan are covered under North Western Railway, Northern
Railway, North Central Railway, West Central Railway and Western
Railway zones of Indian Railways. Zonal Railway wise details of
Railway projects are made available in public domain on Indian
Railway’s website.
RAJASTHAN:-
As on 01.04.2025, 28 Projects (13 New Lines, 5 Gauge Conversion
and 10 Doubling) of a total length of 3409 km, costing 43,918 crore,
falling fully/partly in Rajasthan are sanctioned, out of which 1238
Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of 18,954
crore has been incurred upto March, 2025. The status of work is
summarized as under:-
..P/4-:4:-
Total Length Expenditure upto
No. of
Plan Head Length Commissioned March 2025
projects
(in Km) (in Km) (₹ in Cr)
New Lines 13 981 196 5769
Gauge
5 1252 788 6829
Conversion
Doubling /
10 1176 254 6357
Multitracking
Total 28 3409 1238 18954
Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety works,
falling fully/ partly in the state of Rajasthan is as under:
Period Outlay
2009-14 682 crore/year
2025-26 9,960 Cr. (More than 14 times)
The details of commissioning / laying of new track falling
fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan during 2009-14 and 2014-25 is
as under :-
New Track Average Commissioning of new
Period
Commissioned tracks
2009-14 798 Km 159.6 Km/year
346.82 km per year(More than 2
2014-25 3815 Km
times)
..P/5-:5:-
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly
in Rajasthan are as under:
Cost
S.No. Project
( in crore)
1 Ajmer-Bangurgram Doubling (48 km) 375
2 Bangurgram-Guriya Patch Doubling (47 km) 395
3 Degana-Rai ka Bagh Doubling (146 km) 809
4 Bina-Kota Doubling (283 km) 2476
5 Nimach-Chittaurgarh Doubling (56 Km) 560
6 Dausa-Gangapur City Doubling (93 Km) 950
7 Phulera-Degana Doubling (108 km) 702
8 Churu-Ratangarh Doubling (43 Km) 423
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in Rajasthan which have
been taken up are as under:
S.No. Project Cost
( in
Crore)
1 Taranga Hill – Ambaji – Abu Road new line (117 2798
Km)
2 Nimach – Badi Sadri New line (46 Km) 495
3 Ringus – Khatushyamji New line (17Km) 254
4 Pushkar – Merta (Katyasani) New line (51 Km) 800
5 Ras-Merta City New line (56 Km) 947
6 Devgarh – Nathdwara Gauge Conversion (83 Km) 969
7 Ajmer-Chanderiya Doubling (178 Km) 1635
8 Luni-Samdari-Bhildi Doubling (272 Km) 3086
9 Churu – Sadulpur Doubling (58 Km) 469
10 Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur Doubling (131 Km) 1231
..P/6-:6:-
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).
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.
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