(a) the details of the projects taken up or proposed to be taken up under phase-IVB of National Highways
Development Programme (NHDP) and present status thereof, State-wise including Chhattisgarh;
(b) whether there is any delay in the completion of projects under the said programme;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(d) the action taken by the Government to complete the projects and the time by which these projects are
likely to be completed?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI SARVEY SATHYANARAYANA)
(a) There is no programme identified as NHDP Phase-IVB and projects are being taken up under unified NHDP-IV
programme. Total 19,997 Km length of National Highways is identified for development under NHDP Phase-IV.
Against this, 4971 km length of National Highways has been taken up for development. State-wise list of
stretches identified and taken up for development under NHDP Phase-IV is enclosed at Annexure-I and
Annexure-II, respectively.
(b) to (d) NHDP Phase-IV is envisaged to be completed by 2017-18. Therefore, there is no delay in
completion of the programme. However, there have been some initial delays in implementation of some
of these projects on account of delay in achieving financial closure, non-availability of earth/
aggregates due to ban on mining and delays in land acquisition, shifting of utilities and environment/
forest/wildlife clearances, etc. In order to expedite implementation of the Projects, Regional Offices
have been set up by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) headed by Chief General Manager. Powers
have been delegated to the Chief General Managers. Special land acquisition units are also set up to
expedite land acquisition. Chief Secretaries of State Government have also been nominated as Nodal
officers to expedite construction of Highway Projects. Projects are also closely and periodically
reviewed at headquarter as well as field units. Recently, the issues of delinking environmental
clearance from forest clearance and exempting linear stretches from the requirement of NOC from
Gram Sabha have been resolved. Reserve Bank of India has given dispensation to treat the debt due
to lenders, to the extent assured by Project Authorities in terms of concession agreement, as secured
loan. Further, Government has decided to award contracts on Engineering, Procurement and Contract
(EPC) basis also.