low rate of execution of road projects in the extremist-hit States due to persistent security threats have compelled the Government to relax norms for the road developers.
A top Road Transport and Highways Ministry official said that in the wake of poor rate of road development in States like Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, the Government has decided to relax eligibility conditions like equipment capability, sub contracting for non-mechanised work and qualification criteria to attract more builders in such areas.
Due to security concerns there has been almost no response from contractors in some areas of these States. The MoRTH had earlier taken up the matter with the Home Ministry for deployment of security forces in areas of naxal-hit states where special projects sanctioned by Government have been stalled due to severe law and order problem.
The development follows completion of barely 2,300 km of roads in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas till date out of proposed 5,477 km till 2012. Sources said Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, Gadchirolly in Maharashtra, Malkangiri in Odisha and Palamu, Garhwa, Dumka and Simdega in Jharkhand were particularly impacted by it where contractors had even abandoned some projects midway.
The expenditure incurred on about 2,300 km of projects so far was about `2,700 crore out of a budget of `7,724 crore for 5,477 km. The development of roads under the project is likely to be completed by March 2015.
The Government in 2009 had approved a scheme for development of 1,202 km of NHs and about 4000 Km of state roads in left Wing extremism-affected areas of 34 districts in eight states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Expressing concern over the issue even a Parliamentary panel last month had said that government machinery need to be activated to involve all the agencies to ensure adequate security for doing the road projects in the region.