350 projects of infrastructure show cost overruns of over Rs 3.88 lakh crore

11 Nov 2019 Evaluate

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in its latest report for July 2019 has said that as many as 355 infrastructure projects, each worth Rs 150 crore or more, have shown cost overruns to the tune of over Rs 3.88 lakh crore on account of delays and other reasons. The Ministry monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above. Of these 1,623 projects, 355 reported cost overruns and 552 time escalation.

The report highlighted that total original cost of implementation of the 1,623 projects was Rs 19,33,390.22 crore and their anticipated completion cost is likely to be Rs 23,21,502.84 crore, which reflects overall cost overruns of Rs 3,88,112.62 crore (20.07 percent of original cost). The report added that expenditure incurred on these projects till July 2019 stood at Rs 9,47,571.45 crore, which is 40.82 percent of the anticipated cost of the projects.

The brief reasons for time overruns, as reported by various project implementing agencies, are delays in land acquisition, forest clearance and supply of equipment. Besides, the report said there are other reasons like fund constraints, geological surprises, geo-mining conditions, slow progress in civil works, shortage of labour, inadequate mobilisation by the contractor, Maoist problems, court cases, contractual issues, ROU/ROW (right of use/right of way) problems, law and order situation, among others.

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