Thursday, May 3, 2012


Failure of 20 Km Per Day Road Building

The target achieved on an average during 2011-2012 is 10.39 km per day. During 2011-2012 as against a target of 2500 km of National Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed construction of 2248 km i.e. 6.16 km per day. In addition during 2011-2012 this Ministry has also completed construction of 1547 km i.e. 4.23 km/day of National Highways through State PWDs & Border Roads Organization. 

 Highway projects have a gestation period of about three years from the date of start of the work. To meet the target of construction at an average rate of 20 km per day i.e. almost 7,000 km per year, it is essential that an any given point of the time, there should be almost three times of this length i.e. about 20,000 km of were awarded and under construction. NHAI awarded only 5237 km during period 2007-08 to 2009-10. This comparatively lower quantum of award in previous years affected the completion rate. Progress in implementation has also been affected by poor performance of some contractors, delay in obtaining forest/wild life clearances from Ministry of Environment & Forest, railway clearances, law & order problems in some states, delay in land acquisition etc. NHAI has begun the process of accelerating the pace of award of projects to achieve the target of construction. NHAI awarded 5,059 km in 2010-11 and 6491 km in 2011-12. Target for the award of projects by NHAI for the year 2012-13 is 8800 km. In order to expedite implementation of projects Regional Offices each headed by Chief General Managers have been set up by NHAI for close monitoring of implementation of projects. Achievement of targets is being monitored closely. Projects are periodically reviewed at field offices and at Head Quarter. 

 This information was given by the Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Jitin Prasada in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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