Question : WORLD BANK AIDED ROAD PROJECTS

(a) the State-wise/UT-wise details of projects which are getting assistance/aid from the World Bank for construction/improvement and repairing of roads/NHs particularly in Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether the World Bank has expressed concern over laxity of construction, development and improvement works of National Highways and even stopped/threatened to stop funding of projects;

(c) if so, the details of World Bank aided projects which are running behind schedule alongwith the reasons therefor;

(d) the details of the cost escalations in these projects alongwith their present status; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to speed up the completion of the said projects alongwith the details of revised schedule fixed for these projects?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (Dr. TUSHAR A. CHAUDHARY)

(a) Under National Highways development Project (NHDP), Lucknow-Gorakhpur-UP/Bihar border section of NH-28 is being improved to 4 lane with loan assistance from World Bank. Currently three packages are under implementation, details of which are enclosed as Annex.

(b)&(c) As regards projects under NHDP, in the year 2008 World Bank expressed concern over slow progress in five packages of Lucknow-Muzaffarpur National Highway project (Loan No. 4764-IN) This was related to poor performance of contractors, work site safety arrangement and contract management. Consequently, four poor performing packages in the State of Bihar, WB-9, WB-10, WB-11 and WB-12 were delinked from the World Bank loan after restructuring the loan. Details regarding delayed World Bank projects under implementation along with the reasons are given in Annex.

(d)&(e) Escalations due to delay are paid as per contract provision. In case the project is delayed due to reasons attributable to the Contractor, liquidated damages are imposed and no escalation is paid. Escalations are paid only in case where the delay is beyond the control of the Contractor. Steps taken by the NHAI to speed up the completion of the said projects are mentioned in Annex.