Roadblocks aplenty

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In a last-ditch effort to salvage public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth Rs 98,000 crore stuck due to various issues, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman R P Singh last month wrote to the prime minister and the finance minister saying the matter had to be taken up at the “highest level”. Cancellation of these projects would be against public interest, as the government would not be able to get similar premiums in a rebidding. Singh pointed out official delays in land acquisition and various clearances marred the premium road projects and this could make action against concessionaires difficult. Of the 21 premium projects, land acquisition was delayed by six to 18 months in 17. Further, environment clearances in 14 projects came recently as the matter was stuck in the Supreme Court. Since in many instances these delays were caused by government agencies, NHAI did not see a smooth foreclosure of these contracts, which could land up in court rooms. Here’s a beginner’s guide to the prestigious projects that are stuck