Par panel seeks status report on highway completion target

Concerned that only one-third of the 15,000 km highways construction target for the ongoing fiscal could be achieved by December 2017, a parliamentary panel has sought status report after the end of the financial year from the road transport and highways ministry.
The Parliamentary Committee on Transport, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien, said the ministry has been able to complete only 5,680 km of national highways, one-third of the overall 15,000 km target of completion, till December 31, 2017.
"It is a matter of concern as to how it will achieve the overall target in the remaining time," the 31-member panel said in its report tabled in Parliament today.

It sought a status report till the end of the fiscal from the ministry.
It also expressed concern that the expenditure under Central Sector Road for 2017-18 till January 2018 was Rs 10,037 crore, less than the revised allocations.
"The Committee hopes that the entire allocation may be utilised during the current year itself," it said.
The panel also expressed dismay over utilisation of barely 47 per cent funds for maintenance and repair of roads.