(a) whether the progress of the construction works on the four-lane East-West Corridor (Express Highway) on NH-31C and NH-31 starting from Sankosh River Bridge at Srirampur in Kokrajhar district, Bodoland to Guwahati has been very slow;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for speedy completion of said works; and
(d) the time by which it is likely to be completed?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b) 4-laning of 258 km length from Sankosh River Bridge at Srirampur to Guwahati along NH-31C and NH-31 is under implementation by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). 4-laning work in 144 km length is already completed. Progress was initially delayed mainly due to delay in acquisition of land, utility shifting, obtaining forest/tree cutting/Road Over Bridges (ROBs) clearances, law and order problems etc.
(c) Major portion of land has been acquired during 2010-11. Reserved Forest clearance was obtained in May, 2010 and ROB clearance was obtained in January, 2011. Projects are being monitored closely through periodic reviews.
(d) The entire stretch is targeted to be completed by December, 2012.