Land, Contractor woes stall projects

New Delhi: Delays in land acquisition, utility shifting and poor performance of contractors are among the reasons that have delayed over 500 road projects in the country, minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari told Parliament on Thursday.

“566 projects are behind their completion schedule,” Gadkari said in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha. “Delay in completion leads to cost overrun in some projects.”

To fast track these projects, various steps such as streamlining of land acquisition and environmental clearances, close coordination with other ministries, revamping dispute resolution mechanism, and frequent review meetings with project developers, state governments and contractors have been taken up, the minister said.

“It has now been decided that projects are awarded only when 90% of the land required is available and all the statutory clearances been obtained,” Gadkari said.

He cited environment, wildlife clearances, arbitrational disputes with contractors, and public agitation for additional facilities among other reasons for delay.

Gadkari also informed Parliament that a total of 1,407 projects worth Rs 572,549 crore were in the pipeline at present.

A total of 10,855 km of national highways were constructed in 2018-19, while 4,622 km were constructed in the current financial year till September, against a target of 12,000 km, the minister said.