Question : INFRASTRUCTURAL MEGA PROJECTS

(a) whether time and cost overruns in completion of power projects have caused huge losses to the exchequer;

(b) if so, the total number of such power projects;

(c) whether the cost of basic infrastructural mega projects such as rail and road projects have gone up due to delays in their completion;

(d) if so, the number of years since when such projects have remained in the pipeline, project-wise along with the total cost overruns so far;

(e) the total number of such mega projects which have been scrapped due to increase in their costs; and

(f) the steps being taken by the Government to monitor and expeditious completion of the projects?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (f): Government in 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, on the basis of information supplied by the project implementing agencies.

As on 1st May 2014, 100 on-going projects costing Rs 150 crore and above in the Power sector are on the monitor of this Ministry. Details of these projects are at Annexure I. 54 of these projects have reported time overruns and 17 have reported cost overruns.

As on 1st May 2014, 107 on-going mega projects costing Rs 1000 crore and above in the Railways and Road Transport & Highway sectors are on the monitor of this Ministry. Details of these projects are at Annexure II. 34 of these projects have reported time overruns and 54 have reported cost overruns. 8 projects have reported both time and cost overruns.

As per records of the last 3 years in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, no on-going project costing Rs 150 crore and above in the Power, Railways or Road & Highways sectors has been scrapped due to time or cost overruns.

Major steps undertaken to ensure timely completion of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects 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 Chief Secretaries for removal of bottlenecks and for facilitating the speedy implementation of major projects.