(a) whether the Government has implemented various schemes/projects of roads and highways in Assam;
(b) if so, the details of projects and the details of funds allocated during the year 2009 to 2014, project-wise;
(c) the details of four lane conversion work comp- leted in Assam during the last three years;
(d) whether the estimated cost of various works has increased due to delay; and
(e) if so, the details thereof project-wise and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) & (c) Four lane projects for National Highways of about 1015 km have been taken up in Assam under various schemes like NH(O), National Highway Development Prog- ramme Phase-I & Phase-II and Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East State (SARDP-NE). Out of the above length of 1015 km, four lane conver- sion work in about 175 km have been completed in Assam during the last three years. The allocation of fund is not made project wise, however, total fund allocated for the year 2009 to 2014 under different head for con- struction of National Highways are given at Annexure-I.
(d) & (e) The estimated cost of various works has increased mainly in respect of price escalation due to delay. The list of delayed four lane projects of National Highways is as given at Annexure-II. There have been difficulties in exe- cution of the projects such as delay in land acquisition and shifting of utilities by the concerned departments of the State Government, delay in wildlife and Forest clearan- ces and approval ROBs, delay in clearances for extraction of materials etc besides slow progress by Contractor and law and order problems encountered in some areas. In order to avoid the time and cost overrun in future Projects, the Ministry has decided that all National Highway works costing Rs.100.00 crore and above for road works and Rs.50.00 crore and above for Bridges and Rail Over Bridges will be executed through the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Mode of execution, wherein, works will be awarded only after 90% of encumbrance free land is available and the cost and time for completion of the work is fixed at the time of award. For proper monitoring of the L.A process, a state level co- ordination committee (SLCC) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Assam has been formed. Further regular reviews of the projects are being taken by senior officers of the Mini- stry & NHAI to review the progress of project and to resolve the issues of implementation. Contractors have been instructed for completion of the remaining works as per the revised schedule.