Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-28
Subject: National Highway Projects
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 162

ANSWERED ON 28 TH   JULY, 2016

## NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS

*162.  SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  targets  fixed  for  award  of  contracts  for  the  construction  of  the  National  Highways (NHs)for  the  Financial  years  2016-17,  2017-18  and  2018-19  and  the  present  status thereof;
- (b) the funds mobilised and allocated for the purpose so far; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  and  other Government agencies for the Construction of NHs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 162 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2016 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY  REGARDING NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS.

- (a) The Ministry has fixed a target for award of road projects of 25,000 km length during the current financial year 2016-17 which are envisaged to have tentative completion periods ranging from  24  months  to  36  months.  Road  projects  in  total  length  of  about  1,378  km  have  been awarded during 2016-17 till June, 2016.
- (b)  The  Gross  Budgetary  Support  (GBS)  for  the  Central  Sector  Roads  for  2016-17  (BE)  is Rs  43,807  Crore.  Apart  from  this,  NHAI  (National  Highway  Authority  of  India)  has  been authorized  to  raise  Internal  and  Extra  Budgetary  Resources  (IEBR)/Borrowings  of  Rs  59279 Crore during 2016-17.
- (c)  Regular  meetings  are  held  with  project  developers,  State  Governments  and  contractors    in Head  Quarter  by  Ministry  with  Regional  Officers,  concessionaires  /contractors  to  make  the construction of projects hassle free. To expedite completion of these projects various steps have been taken which include  streamlining of land acquisition & environment clearances, exit for equity investors, premium re-schedulement, close coordination with other Ministries, revamping of dispute resolution mechanism, frequent reviews at various levels etc. Further, The Government  has  taken  major  initiatives  towards  expediting  implementation  of  languishing projects. The various measures taken include :

## Environment and Forest Clearance -

-  Delegation of powers to Regional Offices by Ministry of Environment and Forest.
-  EC (Environment Clearance) not required for length of 100 km. Even beyond 100 Km, EC is not required if widening is restricted to 40m and realignment to 60m.

## ROBs(Rail  Over Bridge) / RUBs(Rail  Under Bridge):

The  procedure  for  GAD  (General  Arrangement  Drawing)  approved  by  Railways  for ROBs  has  been  simplified  and  made    online.    Maintenance  charges  which  were hampering the progress of many projects, stand waived by Railways.  Standard design have been put on website.

## Financial initiatives

-  Loan secured to the extent of termination payment.
-  Infrastructure debt fund - Long term financing at low interest rates
-  Reschedulement of premium - Bank Rate+2%.
-  100% exit after 2 years of completion in projects awarded before 2009.
-  Fund infusion by NHAI in stalled projects where the physical progress is 50% and the concessionaire is facing shortage of funds.
-  NHAI liberally permitting refinance with elongation of repayment period.  RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has also issued circular for providing long term debt finance matching the concession period without classifying the exposure as restructured.

*****