Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has decided to penalise consultants for preparing erroneous Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), which cause delays in project completions. It has also given a go-ahead to the use of satellites to map road stretches to have a detailed and accurate account of the road which is to be constructed.
In another move to bolster road construction work in the country and avoid cost over-runs, the Ministry has also prepared a plan to make
it mandatory to carry out detailed risk assessment study for every road stretch they award to avoid any abrupt construction blocks.
“The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will carry out detailed risk assessment of each stretch before the tenders are floated,” said an official from the Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways.
“This risk assessment will help us iron out all obstacles beforehand, which could arise at the time of project development. This will help us complete projects on time and also avoid cost overruns, which has been a norm so far,” said the official.
Enlisting the risks, the official said issues regarding forest and environment clearances, land acquisition, road realignments, utility shifting etc., could be dealt with prior to actual awarding of projects.
In all new highway projects, which are being tendered, the Ministry has made it mandatory to award stretches only after acquiring at least 80 per cent of all land required for construction.
Under the Government funded projects which are being tendered on EPC (Engineering procurement and construction) mode or the hybrid mode, which Government bears 40 per cent of the project cost, land acquisition is anyway a must-do prior to tendering projects.
In another major step, the Centre has also decided to penalise consultants who submit faulty detailed project reports.
“We have prepared a circular, which will be circulated soon making srict rules governing making of detailed project reports. Good DPRs
will not only help us complete projects within the time frame, but will also help us identify gaps and work on them in advance,” he said.
Government is looking at pushing the award of highway projects from the current 8,000 kms to 12,000 km in the next few years, involving investments of over Rs 5 lakh crore.