Oppn attacks govt on National Highway development

The Government today brushed aside severe criticism for its handling of National Highway development project and ruled out bringing a white paper on the status of functioning of the National Highway Authority of India.     

Replying to questions in Rajya Sabha, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath said he had not felt any need to analyse the past performance of NHAI as his focus was on future.     

"I don't think there is need for a white paper," he said.     

Nath was asked about interference of the ministry in functioning of NHAI during the previous term of the UPA government and changing of NHAI chairman five times in past two years.     

"I have not done an analysis of that as I want to look at future," he said.     

Nath pointedly got back to the opposition by adding that the road construction in past five years was better than the progress in the previous five years when NDA was in power.     

This remark drew sharp criticism from the opposition BJP members who alleged that the National Highway Development Project (NDHP), initiated during NDA regime, had not kept any of the deadlines in past five years.     

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said the the minister was wrong in saying that progress in past five years was better than during the NDA regime.

Nath said he had set a target of completing 20 kilometers of roads per day or 7,000 km in a year. This would involve six/four laning and enhancing existing two-lane roads.     

"Much of this has to be on tolling method," he shared.     

On why no contract for road construction was awarded in 2008, he clarified that some projects did not get any bid because of economic slowdown and global uncertainty.     

"There has been a lull in awarding contracts," he said.     

The minister added that the government has planned 48 highway projects in different states at a total cost of Rs 47,181 crore in the phase-III of NHDP in 2005.     

But detailed project reports (DRP) for none of the 48 projects was ready in 2005.    

"As the DRPs were not ready in 2005, there was no occasion for delay in taking decision by the Ministry of Finance in 2005. Four projects have since been awarded and bids have been received," he said.     

Restructuring of the remaining projects has been undertaken by the NHAI to improve their viability, Nath added.