403 road projects worth Rs 3,85,000 crore pending: Gadkari

Minister says by next Parliament session, a decision will be taken to either restart these projects of shelve them

As many as 403 road projects totalling Rs 3.85 lakh crore initiated during the UPA rule are pending due to a variety of reasons, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Responding to supplementaries, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said by the next Parliament session, finality will be achieved regarding these projects -- either they will be restarted or terminated.

He said work orders for the projects were issued before encroachments were removed or forest and environment clearance given.

Gadkari said work has stopped in various projects and, in some cases, the companies given the contract are on the verge of being declared bankrupt.

Banks were told to provide additional funds for these projects. "If we terminate the projects, you will lose and the blame will eventually come on you. This is what I told the banks," he said, adding that his ministry walked the extra mile to ensure that the pending projects reach a logical conclusion.

In his written response, he said the ministry has fixed a target for award of road projects of 25,000 km length during the current fiscal which are envisaged to have tentative completion period 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, he added.