Question : Infrastructure Projects

(a) the details of major central sector infrastructure schemes/projects being implemented in various States, State-wise during the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether a large number of infra projects are stalled/running behind schedule and if so, the details thereof including reasons therefor and consequential cost over-run, incurring cost overrun;

(c) whether the Government proposes to abandon several projects and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the action plan chalked out by the Government to expedite/complete the ongoing projects without any further delay?

MINISTER FOR STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) : Government through the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation monitors on-going Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above on time and cost overruns through its Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS) on the basis of information provided by the project implementation agencies. The State-wise details during the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-I, II, III and IV.

(b): As on 01.06.2016, a total of 1076 projects are on the monitor of this Ministry. Of these, 330 projects are showing time overruns, 241 projects are showing cost overrun and 70 projects are showing both time and cost overruns with respect to their original project implementation schedules. Details are at Annexure V, VI and VII.

The causes for time and cost overruns are project-specific, depend on a variety of technical, financial and administrative factors, and differ from project to project. However, as reported by the project implementing agencies on this Ministry’s OCMS, the main reasons for delay in timely completion of the Projects are law and order problems, delay in land acquisition, delay in environment and forest clearances, funding constraints, rehabilitation and resettlement issues, local body / municipal permissions, utility shifting, contractual issues, etc.

(c): There is no such information on the OCMS of this Ministry in respect of any specific project/s.

(d): The major steps undertaken to ensure completion of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects without time and cost overruns include: rigorous project appraisal; On-line Computerized Monitoring System (OCMS) for better monitoring; setting up of Standing Committees in the Ministries for fixation of responsibility for time and cost overruns; regular review of infrastructure projects by the concerned administrative Ministries; and setting up of Central Sector Projects Coordination Committees (CSPCCs) in the States under the concerned Chief Secretaries for removal of bottlenecks and for facilitating the speedy implementation of major projects.