I would like to ask government what new road projects they planned since 22 May, 2004 and what exactly is the status of each of these, particularly in regard to identification of specific projects, stretches; approval of the cabinet; financial planning; preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs); acquisition of land; time schedule for each of these projects.

This is enough to gauge what the NDA government did in about three years and what the UPA government has done on the road infrastructure front in two years.

The UPA government’s contribution so far has been to put NDA’s programme (NHDP) in cold-storage and to keep on postponing the targets.

In the very first Project (NHDP-I), GQ—the most prestigious project—the UPA’s record in land acquisition is that even after two years, as on 1 January 2006, over 33% of land required in Tamil Nadu and 20% in Maharashtra has still not been acquired.

The minister for RT&H has publicised, and so has the prime minister, that 132 contracts have been awarded by UPA for 5053 kms in 1257 days—more than any government in past.

Can two of these projects be started in the foreseeable future?

How many have any land acquired at all? How many have even 50% land? Is the prime minister aware of the pathetic state of land acquisition for the NHDP II? Does he know that 48% of land shown as “acquired” pertains to only issue of notification and not acquisition? Why award contracts when the contractor cannot start work? The result this will have is cost-escalation through contractors’ claims and massive time and cost over-run.

... contd.