Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Jul 23 :
The Union Government on Thursday informed Parliament that 21 National Highway (NH) projects in Jammu and Kashmir sanctioned or awarded during the last five financial years have spilled beyond their original completion schedule.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the delayed projects exclude those under consideration for termination or foreclosure. The minister said the principal reasons for delays include land acquisition issues, statutory and forest clearances, utility shifting, encroachment removal, law and order issues, poor performance of contractors or concessionaires, and force majeure events, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Centre said contractors are granted extension of time only in accordance with contractual provisions and where delays arise due to factors beyond their control. In cases where delays are attributable to contractors, damages are imposed, while no additional cost is borne by the government on account of such delays.
The ministry further informed the House that a cumulative penalty of around Rs 2,732 crore has been imposed on contractors and concessionaires for delays in project execution across the country during the last three financial years, of which Rs 780 crore has been recovered. It added that the government is monitoring projects through the Bhoomirashi and Parivesh portals, regular review meetings, the Project Monitoring Group, and PRAGATI to ensure timely completion of National Highway works—(KNO)