NEW DELHI: Concerned over inordinate delay in completion of rail projects, some for over 20 years, Suresh Prabhu-led Ministry of Railways has now asked all 17 railway zones to give a realistic timeline for implementation of new projects. The move comes after NITI Aayog observed that projects are sent for appraisal without any implementation plan. “The NITI Aayog in its appraisal note in one of the DPRs (detailed project reports), submitted by Railways, has observed that in the DPRs, no details regarding implementation are mentioned,” said a senior railways ministry official.
There is a list of 495 projects worth `4.36 lakh crore pending with the ministry. Many of these were sanctioned during the terms of Lalu Yadav and Mamata Banerjee. Others include projects of national importance in states of Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
Following NITI Aayog’s concerns, Railways has now ordered that in future DPRs be added which shall include sufficient details. “A realistic completion schedule for the projects may be drawn up starting from the date of approval till commissioning to facilitate monitoring. This may be adhered to for future DPRs being submitted,” the officer added.