Centre to shut road projects if detailed project reports not prepared for three years

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to close road projects for which consultants have not prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) for the past three years and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or any other agency, including the Border Roads Organisation or the state PWD (national highway wing), has not taken up construction work.

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The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken serious note of the delay in the finalisation of DPRs for the grant of environmental clearance, which has led to unwanted delay in the completion of road projects.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that Sobha Basil, Under Secretary at the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, had conveyed the decision to the Chief Secretaries of various states. There are various road projects in Himachal also that are on hold for the past three or four years because the consultants have not prepared DPRs or the NHAI has not appointed new consultants.

The work on the 65-km stretch of the Pathankot-Mandi highway four-lane project between Palampur and Padhar has been hanging fire since 2022 as despite repeated bids, no consultant has come forward to prepare the DPR. Similarly, no DPR has been prepared for the Kangra-Shimla highway four-lane stretch between Hamirpur and Bhager. These projects are also likely to be affected.

Besides, the Union Ministry has also clarified that projects related to the state PWD (National Highway Wing) and the BRO will also be closed if DPRs have not been prepared in the past three years or the construction work has not been taken up because of technical reasons and the lack of environmental and forest clearances.

A senior NHAI officer, while talking to The Tribune, said that he was waiting for a clarification from the Union Ministry so that the NHAI head office could take the final decision on such projects .

State government sources said that if the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways implemented its orders, it would be a major setback for the state government, as projects were pending for genuine reasons such as the lack of environmental clearance and non-preparation of DPRs by consultants appointed by the NHAI. Besides, all such projects fall in the approved/sanctioned list of the NHAI.

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• There are various road projects in Himachal that are on hold for the past three or four years because the consultants have not prepared DPRs or the NHAI has not appointed new consultants