Lok Sabha Question No. 1707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-28
Subject: Char Dham Programme
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1707

ANSWERED ON 28 th  NOVEMBER, 2019

## CHAR DHAM PROGRAMME

## 1707. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  funds  likely  to  be  spent  by  the  Government  on  Char  Dham  Programme  in  the current financial year;
- (b) the time by which this project is likely to be completed;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen/safeguard  the  said  project  from  the imminent/possible natural disaster;
- (d) whether  any  mechanism  has  been  set  up  for  monitoring  the  quality  of  work/ construction under the said prorgramme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) An amount of Rs. 1850 crores is likely to be spent on the Char Dham Programme in the current financial year.
- (b) The  Char  Dham  Programme  was  initially  targeted  for  completion  by  March,  2020. However, the schedule date of completion of the programme has been delayed mainly due to litigation  in  the  Hon'ble  NGT  and  further  Civil  Appeal  by  the  petitioner  in  the  Hon'ble Supreme  Court.  Further,  the  section  from  Dharasu  bend  to  Gangotri  (94km)  lies  under Bhagirathi  Eco-  Sensitive  Zone  on  which  works  can  be  taken  up  only  after  approval  of Masterplan  by  MoEF&CC.  The  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  vide  order  dated  08.08.2019  has disposed of the Civil Appeal and constituted a High Power Committee (HPC) to look into the

environmental  and  other  issues  related  to  the  chardham  programme  as  per  the  terms  of reference set by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The HPC has been mandated to submit its report within 4 months from the date of the order. The date of completion of the programme depends on the report of the HPC and approval of Masterplan for Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone by MoEF&CC.

(c) The projects under Chardham program include widening of existing roads along with adequate/sufficient slope protection by way of erection of retaining walls and breast walls and by deploying drapery system, netting, anchoring, reinforced wall etc. as per Detailed Project Reports.  The  projects  also  include  mitigation  measures/  stabilisation  of  chronic  landslide  & sinking spots/zones as standalone project or part of road widening projects to avoid land slide and  safety  of  road  users.  Bio  engineering  methods  like  hydro  seeding  are  being  used  for vegetative growth on fragile slopes for their stability. All these measures shall safeguard  the highway and habitation against natural calamity.

(d) & (e) Yes,  Sir.  The  works  under  Char  Dham  Pariyojna  are  being  implemented  on Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode of contract. These projects are being implemented  by  3  executing  agencies  of  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways,  viz, Uttarakhand  State  PWD,  Border  Road  Organization  (BRO)  and  National  Highway  & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).  For each project, a Supervision Consultant  called  Authority ' s  Engineer  comprising  of  a  team  of  Key  Experts  has  been appointed for day -to -day supervision and monitoring of the construction works, which includes monitoring  of  quality  control  of  the  works  as  required  under  the  contract  agreement . This Supervision Consultant reports directly to the concerned executing agencies in respect of day to day progress and various other aspects of the project . Regular monitoring of progress of the work is done at the level of concerned executing agencies and also at Ministry ' s level . , Further, under this EPC mode of contract, the contractor is directly responsible for ensuring quality of the work as well as rectification of defects and maintenance of the project stretch for a period of 4 years after completion of construction.

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