INVC,
Guwahati,
Vijay Chhibber, Secretary,Road Transport & Highways held a meeting at Guwahati on 1st August, 2013 with the officers representing various agencies in the Region, viz. the State PWDs, BRO (Border Roads Organisation) and NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) to review the road projects in North East region. This was in line with the focused approach of the Government towards improving the road infrastructure in particular in the Region. The Government of India Consider that the timely successful implementation of infrastructure projects is vital for accelerated socio-economic development. The Government is committed to accelerated development of infrastructure in the country in general and in the North East Region in particular. Earlier this year on 4th February, 2013 the progress of road projects were reviewed at Guwahati by the then Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Dr. C. P. Joshi. Recently the Prime Minister of India reviewed the infrastructure projects in the North East Region in a meeting held on 18th July, 2013 and consequently EGoM and committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary were constituted to expedite finding solutions for outstanding issues impeding progress of projects. Keeping in view the various decisions taken and the targets set forth during the aforesaid meeting, the projects were reviewed in detail by Shri Vijay Chhibber. Timelines were laid down for expediting progress of ongoing projects, resolving various outstanding issues. A host of decisions were also taken to facilitate speeding up of delayed works in a time bound manner, taking up of stringent actions against non performing contractors, attaching greater focus for preparation of project reports truly reflecting the actual ground conditions, time bound completion of pre-construction activities, suggesting most cost effective technological solutions, etc. State PWDs were also requested to accord emphasis urgently for strengthening their institutional capabilities and project management mechanism. The delay in implementation and poor progress, frequent revision of scopes leading to time and cost overruns of projects under implementation by the BRO was viewed with a serious concern and it was directed that greater focus should be given towards ensuring timely and cost effective implementation of these projects. It was also agreed that the Ministry may consider taking up implementation of some projects directly and all State Governments were requested to consider sparing some of their technical officers so that they could be associated in implementation of these projects along with the officers from the Ministry. It was mentioned that the Ministry would consider sanctioning of works related to preconstruction activities, such as Land Acquisition, shifting of utilities during the current financial year by digressing from the Ministry’s general policy to link sanctioning of projects based on the available outlay and outstanding liabilities against already committed works. This would facilitate taking up of civil works on such stretches without any cost and time overruns in the new environment of implementing projects on EPC (Engineering, procurement, construction) mode wherein at least 90 % of land is required to be handed over to the contractor at the time of award and the balance land and necessary clearances are required to be made available in a time bound manner. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up an ambitious Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE) for development of road network in the north eastern States of the Country. This programme envisages providing road connectivity to all the district headquarters in the north eastern region by minimum 2 lane highway standards apart from providing road connectivity to backward and remote areas, areas of strategic importance and neighbouring countries. Programme planned in two phases (A & B) including Arunachal Package covers about 10,141 km. The phase A of SARDP-NE including Arunachal Package covers 6,418 km at an estimated cost of Rs 33,688 crore. Works are being executed by the State PWDs, BRO, NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The project is targeted for completion by June, 2016. Phase B is at conceptual stage. So far about 1,180 km have been completed. It has been targeted to award projects in a total length of about 2,000 km and achieve completion in 550 km length during 2013-14.
