Question : CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS

(a) the details of the National Highways (NHs) Projects under construction, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether there has been any delay in completion of these projects, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons there for, project-wise;

(c) the details of the proposals received from various States for NHs projects during the last three years along with the projects approved/pending approval including expenditure likely to be incurred on these projects; and

(d) the time by which the pending proposals are likely to be approved along with projects likely to be completed in the country including National Highway 49 in Chhattisgarh, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS ( SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN )

(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 274 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2014 ASKED BY SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE AND SHRI VIKRAM USENDI REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS.

(a) to (d) Development of National Highways is a continuous process. Nine hundred eighty two works are ongoing . One sixty three projects are behind schedule. The main reasons for delay are due to Land Acquisition,Utility shifting,Non-availability of Soil/ Aggregates,Poor performance of contractors, Environment/Forest/Wildlife Clearance, ROB & RUB issue with Railways, Public agitation for additional facilities,Arbitration/contractual disputes with contractors etc., To expedite completion of these projects the steps taken included Streamlining of Environment Clearances, Exit for Equity Investors, Premium re-schedulement, Securitization of road sector loans, Mutual termination /Cancellation of awarded road projects and re-bidding, Close coordination with other Ministries, Revamping of Dispute Resolution mechanism, frequent reviews at various levels etc.,. The details of ongoing projects as well as delayed projects are annexed.

One thousand seven hundred fifty nine proposals have been received from the State PWDs, out of which one thousand one hundred seventy seven proposals included in annual plan were approved during last three years depending upon the availability of resources and inter- se- priority and technical parameters. Since the annual plan is prepared every year for each State, the proposals not sanctioned are treated as returned unapproved as such there is no pendency including NH-49 for the last three years. An expenditure to the tune of Rs. 15492 crores has been targeted on these projects.