Lok Sabha Question No. 3150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Delay in National Highway Projects
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan, Shri Karti P Chidambaram, Dr. Kirsan Namdeo

be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number and value of national highway projects sanctioned during  the  last  ten  years  which  are  currently  delayed  along  with  the current status of the project;
- (b) the total number and value of highway projects which have been bid out  but  construction  is  yet  to  begin  including  the  reasons  for  noncommencement;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to expedite these delayed projects to avoid cost escalation; and
- (d)  the  manner in which the Government plans to bring all delayed or uninitiated highway projects back on schedule?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3150 ANSWERED ON 18 th  DECEMBER 2025

## DELAY IN NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS

3150. SHRI KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (a)    643  under  construction  National  Highways  (NHs)  projects  with cumulative  project  cost  of  about  Rs.  Four  lakh  crore,  which  were sanctioned and subsequently awarded since the Financial Year 2015-16 onwards  and  currently  under  construction,  have  spilled  beyond  their original  completion schedule as per contract.  Of which, 301 projects are facing a delay of <1 year, 263 projects of 1-3 years and 79 projects of  more  than  3  years,  without  attaining  any  of  the  various  stages  of project  completion  and  excluding  projects  under  consideration  for termination / foreclosure. Majority of these projects are scheduled to be completed during the current and next financial year.

(b)  133  NH  projects  with  total  cost  of  about  Rs.  one  lakh  crore  have been  awarded  but  appointed  date  could  not  be  declared  pending fulfilment of pre-requisite conditions, inter-alia, availability of encumbrance  free  land  and  clearances  including  forest  and  wildlife clearances excluding available time period with contractor / concessionaire  for  achievement  of  financial  close  and  submission  of bank guarantee. (c)  and  (d)  In  order  to  ensure  timely  completion  of  NH  projects,  the Government has undertaken various initiatives. These include streamlining and expediting land acquisition using 'Bhoomirashi' portal and  GIS-based  Land  Acquisition  Plan,  revamping  'Parivesh'  Portal  to facilitate  faster  forest  and  environmental  clearances,  enabling  online approval of General  Arrangement Drawings (GAD) of Road Over Bridge/Road Under Bridge (ROB/RUB) from the Railways, and leveraging the mechanism of review and resolution of bottlenecks / hindrances in ongoing  projects,  in  active  collaboration  with  the  State  Governments and other stakeholders.  Railways has also launched a web portal for Railway related clearances with defined timelines for various approvals. The  Government  has  put  in  place  a  strong  framework  using multiple  mechanisms  for  monitoring  project  progress  and  contractor inefficiencies. Regular review meetings are conducted at various levels with  stakeholders  to  assess  project  progress,  and  critical  projects,

such as those delayed by more than three years or pending for award / appointment. Further, many State Governments conduct coordination meetings led by the Chief Secretary to resolve issues affecting project execution. Projects  where  issues  remain  unresolved  are  escalated  for  further review through the Project Monitoring Group and 'PRAGATI'. As a result of the above, no. of projects delayed by more than 3 years  has  been  reduced  from  152  as  on  01.04.2024  to  85  as  on 30.11.2025. Further, no. of projects for which appointed date could not be  declared  even  after  being  awarded  for  more  than  12  months,  has been reduced from 87 as on 01.04.2024 to 45 as on 30.11.2025. *****