489 Road Projects Delayed Due to Land and Clearance Hurdles: Nitin Gadkari

Quick Summary

• Union Road Transport and Highways Minister nitin Gadkari informed Parliament that 489 road projects scheduled for completion by March 2025 are delayed due to issues like land acquisition,forest/wildlife clearances,and railway approvals.
• The government is working closely with state governments and stakeholders to resolve these issues.
• Cost overruns have occurred in some delayed projects due to factors such as increased compensation costs for land, price escalation, GST impact, public demands for additional structures (VUPs/PUPs), changes in designs for bridges (ROBs/RUBs) meeting Railway standards.
• Contracts of inordinately delayed projects may be terminated or modified based on feasibility before being re-awarded.
• National highways are constructed per Indian Road Congress specifications; the current maximum design speeds are 120 km/h for expressways and 100 km/h for national highways.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The delay in completing 489 road progress projects highlights operational challenges that India faces in large-scale infrastructure planning. Issues like land acquisition conflicts, environmental clearances, and alignment with standards from multiple agencies underline the complexities involved. These impediments not only result in rising costs but could also affect economic growth by delaying connectivity improvements crucial to trade efficiency.

The government’s proactive stance-collaborating with states and stakeholders-is timely but underscores the need to streamline approval processes at a systemic level. Increased project management rigor during planning stages may reduce future delays while contributing positively toward India’s infrastructure ambitions tied closely to development goals. The focus on adhering to national design specifications reinforces long-term structural integrity essential for lasting transport networks.

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