The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed earlier on February 14, 2014 between the State Government and Railway Ministry, was renewed for the second time on Thursday extending the time frame for the completion of the five pending railway projects till March 31, 2017.
Total expenditure for the five projects was also revised to Rs5,775 crore of which the State has the liability of Rs3,221 crore.
The MoU was signed between Executive Director (Work) of Railway Board Ved Prakash Gudreja and Transport Secretary Ratan Kumar in presence of Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba and other senior officials from both sides.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba, promising to resolve the local problems of land acquisition and obtaining forest clearance soon to expedite the completion of pending projects also stressed on adopting positive approach towards them.
When the MoU was originally signed on February 19, 2002, the total cost for the various railway projects was estimated at Rs1,997 crore, with the State’s share being 67 per cent. later, it was revised to an equal 50 per cent each for the Centre and the State. But, as the projects got delayed, rising inflation has now put the project cost amounting to Rs5,775 crore.
According to the data provided by the State Government, it has given over Rs2,219 crore to the Railway Board for construction of about 665km of railway lines and needs to give around Rs1,002 crore more as final payment to the Centre.
The proposals for seven railway tracks — Deoghar-Dumka, Koderma-Ranchi, Koderma-Giridih, Koderma-Tilaiya, Rampurhat-Mandarhill via Dumka, Ranchi-lohardaga-Tori and Hansdiha-Godda — were first made in 2002 during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Babulal Marandi. Dumka-Hansdiha rail line was added to the list lately, a few years back.
Continued on Page 2
But only the Deoghar-Dumka rail link has been completed so far which is now operational. Ranchi-lohardaga-Tori project, on the other hand, has partially been completed with tracks laid between the State capital and lohardaga.
The Centre will be paid Rs66.18 crore by the State Government in this financial year 2014-15 for the completion of five railway projects Koderma-Hazaribagh, Nawadih-Kanwar, Shikaripara-Pingadhia, Badkichapi-Tori, Hazaribagh-Barkakana in the State.
Problem of law and order in the State, especially Naxalite issue has been identified as the major hurdle for delays for the pending railway projects in the state. land acquisition along Koderma-Ranchi line and Pending forest clearances have also come in the way of the Hazaribagh-Koderma lines.