New Delhi: The number of delayed projects related to infrastructure development in the railways has increased from 56 in 2022 to 98 in 2023, the New Indian Express reported.Among 24 infrastructure sectors, railways ranks second in terms of the highest number of projects delayed. Road transport and highways sector stands first.According to NIE, seven out of 10 mega projects delayed in the country belong to the Indian Railways, including the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line, which is running behind its original schedule by more than 21 years.At present, there are a total number of 1,646 infrastructure projects across 24 sectors. These include 148 projects of the railways which are being monitored by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division.Out of a total 1,646 projects under scanner, 809 projects (including 98 of railways) are delayed from their original scheduled dates of completion, the newspaper reported, citing a July 2023 report shared with the PMO and other wings of the Union government.Out of the 809 projects, 213 projects (including nine of railways) are exceptionally delayed, leading to maximum cost overruns.Delays in land acquisition, obtaining clearances, tendering, contractual issues and inadequate manpower, technical approvals, and law and order problems are the issues leading to the exceptional delay of these projects.Cost overrunsAs on August 1, 2023, the Ramganjmund-Bhopal rail line project of Western Railway has an estimated cost overrun of Rs 3,032 crore. The project was sanctioned in 2002 with an estimated cost of Rs 425 crore.The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line project has a cost overrun of Rs 37,012 crore. It was sanctioned in 1995 at an original estimated budget of Rs 2,500 crore. The project is delayed by more than 21 years now.The Lalitpur-Satna-Rewa Singruli project’s escalated budget has touched Rs 8,249 crore. It was sanctioned in 1998 with an original estimated cost of Rs 248 crore.The new BG rail line from Byrnihat to Shilong, sanctioned in 2010 with an original budget of Rs 906 crore, is delayed with the escalated budget reaching Rs 8,324 crore.The railway’s eastern dedicated freight corridor project, sanctioned in 2006 with an estimated budget of Rs 11,589 crore, is running behind its original schedule with the budget escalating to Rs 51,219 crore.All of this information is available in the July 2023 report shared with the government.“Besides railways, the 419 road transport and highways projects are delayed from their original scheduled deadlines, inflating the budget heavily. The total original cost of 1,646 projects, including that of railways, was Rs 23,92,837.89 crore and their anticipated completion cost is likely to be Rs 28,58,394.39 crore,” the newspaper reported, citing the report.