The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to preclude at least 4 big Highway projects in Tamil Nadu and de-scope many more. This decision was taken as contractors are unable to procure soil for earthwork and have been waiting for months to get their statutory clearances.
The NHAI has also decided to de-scope another 6 projects that are waiting for various clearances and is yet to get land from State government agencies. According to sources, the Road Transport Ministry has written to the state Chief Secretary stating constraints to carry out a dozen crucial big highway projects in the state.
“On the one hand, the state government is sending a number of proposals to the Centre for highway development while on the other it’s unable to provide necessary support for completing the ongoing works. The delays only result in the private contractors raising claims on the NHAI and arbitrations,” said an official, who did not wish to be named.
The projects that are to be foreclosed are two projects of 4-laning of the stretch from Tamil Nadu-Kerala Border to Kanyakumari and two projects of 6-laning from Sriperumbudur to Walajapet. In other cases, namely 2 projects of 4-laning from Vikravandi to Cholapuram, the NHAI has not yet received the required land and will therefore de-scope the works on the remaining portion for which land is unavailable and close the contract. In addition, the Pollachi-Coimbatore project is also foreclosed as the NHAI has not received the required land from the State government to set up a toll plaza and is therefore not able to collect user fee.
Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu apparently held meeting with 25 district collectors in July and very recently on December 16, PWD and Highways Minister E.V. Velu too held meetings with heads of line departments and NHAI Chief Manager.
However, the foreclosure of the projects suggest that the meetings have not turned out to be fruitful with the state government failing to take required steps.
(With inputs from Times of India)
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