Railway projects cleared 20 years ago still incomplete: CAG

CAG takes a dim view of Railways' performance in executing new line projects.

Taking a dim view of Railways’ performance in executing new line projects,the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that some of them,which were sanctioned two decades ago,are yet to be completed.

The progress of 50 new line projects in the backward regions sanctioned more than ten years ago was reviewed by the CAG to evaluate their current status and reasons for their non-completion.

“The progress work being very slow,18 of them are not expected to be completed within next ten years,” it has noted in its latest report tabled in Parliament on Friday.

Story continues below this ad

Railways have already incurred an expenditure of Rs 8,549 crores on 50 incomplete new lines,and balance funds to the tune of 16,800 crore are required to complete these projects.

The CAG has also asked the railways to shelve those projects where the work is affected because of resources crunch.

The auditor found that five new line projects sanctioned more than 20 years ago,nine sanctioned between 15 and 20 years ago and 36 between 10 and 15 years ago were lying incomplete as on March 2010.

“Once the works are undertaken,they should be completed within the shortest possible time to avoid cost and time overrun,” it observed.

Story continues below this ad

The CAG noted that in most of the projects,targets for completion were not envisaged,and where targets were set,these were not achieved.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram