CAG pulls up TN highways dept for delay in completion of projs

The Comptroller and Auditor General
of India has criticised the Tamil Nadu Highways Department for lack of co-ordination with state and central government agencies resulting in deficiency in providing better transport services to the public.
Besides, the CAG, in its report for 2009-14 tabled in the
Assembly today, also found fault with the department for not following the state government directives which led to a delay in implementation of road projects thereby blocking Rs 299.34 crore funds.
"In effective planning, lack of co-ordination with state/Central government departments and National Highways Authority of India, inordinate delay in completion of projects resulted in non-achievement of intended objective of providing better transport infrastructure to public", the report said listing out the projects.

It said the highways department "failed to observe the instructions of Government to commence work after land acquisition resulting in delay in completion of projects causing hardship to general public".

The audit undertaken by the CAG identified that between
2009 and 2014 the Highways Department did not have any "master plan" for construction of bridges.
"The objective of providing better transport linkages to
ensure economic development of the state remain to be fulfilled," it said.