DCOMPLETION
OF GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL
Rajya
Sabha
The target for completion
of Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is December, 2004. Although around
40% of the contracts were awarded after July, 2001, most of the
projects on GQ are likely to be completed by December, 2004. Many
of these projects are expected to be completed before this date.
However, a few projects, such as, Himmatnagar-Chiloda, on National
Highways-8 and Allahabad Bypass on National Highway-2 may not
be completed by this date.
The main reasons
for delay are problems relating to land acquisition, shifting
of utilities, quarries, law and order, and procedural requirements
of external lending agencies.
No tentative
date has been fixed for the completion of GQ instead of 2004.
However, the following efforts are being made for early completion
of Golden Quadrilateral:
- the contracts for works provide
for bonus for early completion and penalty for delays;
- close monitoring of the projects
by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Ministry;
- speedy completion of pre-construction
activities like land acquisition, tree cutting and shifting
of utilities;
- speedy-decision making;
- prompt payment to contractors;
and
- regular interaction jointly
with consultants, builders and NHAI at Minister’s level.
This information
was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Road
Transport and Highways, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) B.C. Khanduri in an
oral reply to a starred question of Smt. Jamana Devi Barupal and
Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy in Rajya Sabha today.
