New Delhi: Expressing concern over the
tardy implementation of rail projects during the 11th Plan
Period, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has
asked the PSU behemoth to make "sincere and conscious efforts"
to achieve the target during the remaining plan period.
As against the target of laying 2000 km of new line,
Railways could lay only 513 km in the first two years of the
Plan period, it said.
The reasons being cited by Railways for slow progress
are "repeated time and again in each and every case of
shortfall," it said in its Action Report presented to the Lok
Sabha today.
They include abnormal fluctuation in steel prices,
delay in land acquisition and forestry clearance and law and
order conditions in the North East Regions.
During the Plan Period, Railways had targeted to
complete 10,000 km of gauge conversion but so far achieved
conversion of only 2612 km.
Likewise, it had targeted to finish 6000 km of
doubling of track and 3500 km of electrification work but
could achieve only 789 km of doubling work and 1299 km of
electrification work, the panel said.
While the Railway Ministry is at present doing a
mid-term appraisal exercise with the Planning Commission to
review the progress made till now, the Committee said it would
like to be apprised of the revised target for the Plan period
after the exercise.
This, it said, would give a clearer picture of the
target fixed with respect to actual achievement related to
doubling and electrification work.
The Committee said it has been informed by Railways
that the exercise will help it to identify areas of shortfall
and take mid-term corrective measures.
The exercise and the revised targets are expected to
be finalised by the end of this year.
It also called for concerted efforts from Railways for
timely execution of proposed production units in Madhepura,
Marhowra, Chhapra, Kanchrapara, Rai Bareili, Palghat and
Dankuni.
PTI
