Lok Sabha Question No. 173 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Roads Construction by BRO
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA, BHARATENDRA SINGH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEFENCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO.173**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

**ROADS CONSTRUCTION BY BRO**

*173.	SHRI  JUGAL KISHORE:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE    j{kk ea=h

be pleased to state:

(a)	the details of road construction projects being implemented by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in various States including Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern States, project-wise;

(b)	whether instances of delay and other irregularities in construction of roads by BRO have been reported;

(c)	if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government against the erring official in this regard;

(d)	whether BRO is also engaged in construction of certain State Roads in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)	the time by which the pending projects are likely to be completed and renovation / maintenance of existing roads are done by BRO?

#### A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                              	        (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

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**(a) to (e):** **A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.**

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**STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 173 FOR ANSWER ON 31.7.2015**

**(a)	 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) maintains and constructs the roads in border areas identified to be important from operational point of view as required by the Army.  At present 452 roads of length 23195 km have been assigned to BRO for construction / development. The project wise details are at Annexure.**

**(b) & (c):** **Yes, Madam.  Instances of delay in execution of road projects by BRO have been reported. The following are the main reasons for the delay:**

| **(i)**   | **Delay in Forest / Wildlife / Environment clearance.**                                                                                        |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **(ii)**  | **Delay in Land Acquisition by various State Governments.**                                                                                    |
| **(iii)** | **Difficulties in availability of construction material.**                                                                                     |
| **(iv)**  | **Diversion of resources due to natural disaster such as flash flood of Leh in 2010, earthquake in Sikkim in 2011 and J&K flood in 2014.** |

**In order to expedite forest and other clearances at the State Government level, Empowered Committees under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the respective states have been constituted.  Ministry of Environment and Forests has also accorded general approval in July 2014 for diversion of forest land for construction and widening of roads by BRO in area falling within 100 kms aerial distance from LAC in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.**

**The irregularities generally pertain to awarding contracts at exorbitant rates, forged test reports submitted for contract materials, undue favour to contractors in awarding contracts, irregularity in supply and receipt of material and misappropriation of construction materials.  Prosecution sanction has been accorded in respect of 27 officials in CBI cases during last two years.  Further, penalty orders have been issued against three officers in disciplinary cases during the last one year.**

**.....2/-**

**:  2  :**

**(d)	BRO has accepted to undertake construction of road Loren-Barapather-Jamianwaligali-Basimgali in Jammu and Kashmir as a deposit work under Border Area Development Programme (BADP). The construction work could not be started by BRO for want of wild-life clearance, to be obtained by State Government.**

**(e)	The roads presently under construction by BRO are likely to be completed between years 2015 and 2022.  Depending on the operational requirements, new road works are taken up by BRO which may change the plan for completion of existing roads.**

**Roads are maintained by BRO as per laid down specifications.  Due to the difficult terrain (mountainous, high altitude and slide prone areas), natural calamities and construction activities / widening works etc., roads get damaged and the riding quality gets affected.  Inspection of work on roads by executives at Project and Task Force level and maintenance / repair of damaged roads are carried out regularly.**

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**ANNEXURE REFERRED IN THE REPLY GIVEN IN THE STATEMENT IN PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 173 FOR ANSWER ON 31.7.2015**

**ROADS ASSIGNED TO BRO FOR CONSTRUCTION**

| **S. No.**   | **Project**        | **State**                              | **No. of roads**   | **Length in Km.**   |
|--------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
| **1.**       | **Arunank**        | **Assam**                              | **1**              | **95.00**           |
|              |                    | **Arunachal Pradesh**                  | **13**             | **1212.58**         |
| **2.**       | **Beacon**         | **J&K**                            | **52**             | **2201.43**         |
| **3.**       | **Brahmank**       | **Assam**                              | **1**              | **15.26**           |
|              |                    | **Arunachal Pradesh**                  | **23**             | **1461.18**         |
| **4.**       | **Chetak**         | **Punjab**                             | **7**              | **182.61**          |
|              |                    | **Rajasthan**                          | **29**             | **1787.90**         |
| **5.**       | **Dantak**         | **Assam**                              | **3**              | **123.94**          |
| **6.**       | **Deepak**         | **Himachal Pradesh**                   | **12**             | **767.14**          |
| **7.**       | **Himank**         | **J&K**                            | **24**             | **1933.76**         |
| **8.**       | **Pushpak**        | **Assam**                              | **3**              | **110.56**          |
|              |                    | **Manipur**                            | **3**              | **247.50**          |
|              |                    | **Mizoram**                            | **12**             | **894.71**          |
| **9.**       | **Rohtang Tunnel** | **Himachal Pradesh**                   | **1**              | **23.64**           |
| **10.**      | **Sampark**        | **J&K**                            | **82**             | **1592.15**         |
| **11.**      | **Setuk**          | **Tripura**                            | **7**              | **976.02**          |
|              |                    | **Andaman & Nicobar**  **Islands** | **1**              | **25.00**           |
| **12.**      | **Sewak**          | **Nagaland**                           | **8**              | **757.35**          |
|              |                    | **Manipur**                            | **15**             | **1506.87**         |
| **13.**      | **Shivalik**       | **Uttarakhand**                        | **21**             | **949.19**          |
| **14.**      | **STF  Hirak**     | **Uttarakhand**                        | **8**              | **641.57**          |
| **15.**      | **Swastik**        | **West Bengal**                        | **4**              | **159.22**          |
|              |                    | **Sikkim**                             | **31**             | **679.59**          |
| **16.**      | **Udayak**         | **Assam**                              | **2**              | **26.19**           |
|              |                    | **Arunachal Pradesh**                  | **33**             | **1976.19**         |
| **17.**      | **Vartak**         | **Assam**                              | **4**              | **139.00**          |
|              |                    | **Arunachal Pradesh**                  | **36**             | **1392.00**         |
| **18.**      | **Vijayak**        | **J&K**                            | **19**             | **1317.23**         |
|              | **Total**          |                                        | **452**            | **23195 Km.**       |

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