(a) the year in which Ahmedabad-Vadodara Express Highway was sanctioned;
(b) the estimated cost of the same;
(c) whether the project has not been completed so far;
(d) if so, the reasons for delay and the escalated cost of the above Highway; and
(e) the steps taken to complete the said Highway within the scheduled time?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT
(SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) & (b) : Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway Project in Gujarat was sanctioned in 1986 at an estimated cost of Rs.137.19 crore.
(c) to (e) : The project has not been completed so far because of the failure of the Joint Venture and poor performance of original contractors leading to their expulsion. In order to expedite its completion, the National Highways Authority of India has been entrusted with the implementation of the balance work. The balance work between Ahmedabad to Nadiad section (phase-I) has already been awarded while the detailed project report for Nadiad - Vadodara section (phase II) is under preparation. The project is now targetted to be completed by December, 2003. It is too early to indicate escalated cost of the project at this stage.