Delayed projects galore

About 800 central sector infrastructure projects have been delayed with respect to their original schedules, showed a government report. Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division (IPMD) report shows that the road, transport, and highways sector has the maximum number of delayed projects in the country.

The IPMD under the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, monitors the implementation status of projects costing more than Rs 150 Crores.

The IPMD December 2022 report shows that there are 428 delayed projects in the Road Transport and Highways sector, followed by 117 in Railways, 88 in the Petroleum, 36 in coal, 55 in power, 27 in water resources, 4 in Health and Family Welfare, 15 in urban development, 24 in civil aviation, and many others.

The total original cost of implementation of these 1,438 projects was Rs 20,35,794.75 crores and their anticipated completion costs likely to be Rs 24,86,069.52 crores. This shows that there is a cost overrun of Rs 4,50,274.77 crores.

In a statement, the IPMD said, “Out of the 1438 projects, 8 projects are ahead of schedule, 253 are on schedule, 835 are delayed, 343 projects reported cost overrun and 165 projects

Industry sources said the certain infra projects in western India is monitored at the highest level of the government. While the Mumbai Delhi dedicated freight corridor of the railways was implemented with the PMO closely monitoring the project, there are several railway infra projects in Southern India which were sanctioned way back in 2008 but work is yet to start.  It all depends on the patronage from Delhi sources said.