New Delhi: National Highways Authority of India (chewing) has decided to close at least four heads highway projects In Tamil Nadu As the contractors are unable to procure the soil for earthwork and are waiting for months to get the statutory clearance.
NHAI has decided to work in another half a dozen projects where it is yet to get land from state government agencies and various approvals are awaited.
TOI has learned that the road transport ministry has written to the state chief secretary stating its “barrier” to carrying out the ongoing works on a dozen important Highway Projects that have been delayed in the state.
“On the one hand, the state government is sending several proposals to the Center for highway development, while on the other hand it is unable to provide the necessary support to complete the ongoing works. The delay would have resulted only in claims on NHAI by private contractors. and mediation,” said an official, who did not wish to be named.
Sources said the ministry has listed the projects that will have to be closed and these include two 4-lane projects from Tamil Nadu-Kerala border to Kanyakumari and two 6-lane projects from Sriperumbudur to Walajapet. “All projects in Kanyakumari district are almost at a standstill as contractors are unable to get soil for earthworks. Around 19 quarries and burj areas have been closed and it is almost impossible to get approval from the Hill Area Conservation Authority. Same is the case with the two projects in the Sriperumbudur-Valajapet corridor. Burj Earth is not available and pond ash is also not available,” said a source.
Officials said that in other cases like the two 4-lane projects from Vikravandi to Cholapuram, the NHAI is yet to get the required land and hence it will close the contract by de-scoping the works on the remaining portion, for which there is no land available. He said that in the case of the Pollachi-Coimbatore 4-lane project, the state government has not yet provided the required land for setting up the toll plaza and hence NHAI is unable to collect the user fee.
“Some projects started in 2016 and we are still struggling to get land, soil and other clearances. How long will we wait. The burden of delay is increasing on NHAI,” said an official. However, Tamil Nadu government officials said that massive action has been taken since July to resolve issues related to the projects, whether land acquisition or permission of the Burj area.
Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu had held a meeting with 25 district collectors in July to sort out the issues. He held an inter-departmental meeting with Water Resources Department, Forest and TANGEDCO to resolve the issues of NHAI.
On 16 December, PWD and Highways Minister EV Velu held a five-hour meeting with 22 collectors, heads of line departments and chief general manager of NHAI. The Highways Secretary also held frequent meetings. A senior government official said, “The state government is providing a very high level of support to the NHAI projects. More than 80% of the issues have been resolved.”
(with inputs from Julie Mariyappan)
NHAI has decided to work in another half a dozen projects where it is yet to get land from state government agencies and various approvals are awaited.
TOI has learned that the road transport ministry has written to the state chief secretary stating its “barrier” to carrying out the ongoing works on a dozen important Highway Projects that have been delayed in the state.
“On the one hand, the state government is sending several proposals to the Center for highway development, while on the other hand it is unable to provide the necessary support to complete the ongoing works. The delay would have resulted only in claims on NHAI by private contractors. and mediation,” said an official, who did not wish to be named.
Sources said the ministry has listed the projects that will have to be closed and these include two 4-lane projects from Tamil Nadu-Kerala border to Kanyakumari and two 6-lane projects from Sriperumbudur to Walajapet. “All projects in Kanyakumari district are almost at a standstill as contractors are unable to get soil for earthworks. Around 19 quarries and burj areas have been closed and it is almost impossible to get approval from the Hill Area Conservation Authority. Same is the case with the two projects in the Sriperumbudur-Valajapet corridor. Burj Earth is not available and pond ash is also not available,” said a source.
Officials said that in other cases like the two 4-lane projects from Vikravandi to Cholapuram, the NHAI is yet to get the required land and hence it will close the contract by de-scoping the works on the remaining portion, for which there is no land available. He said that in the case of the Pollachi-Coimbatore 4-lane project, the state government has not yet provided the required land for setting up the toll plaza and hence NHAI is unable to collect the user fee.
“Some projects started in 2016 and we are still struggling to get land, soil and other clearances. How long will we wait. The burden of delay is increasing on NHAI,” said an official. However, Tamil Nadu government officials said that massive action has been taken since July to resolve issues related to the projects, whether land acquisition or permission of the Burj area.
Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu had held a meeting with 25 district collectors in July to sort out the issues. He held an inter-departmental meeting with Water Resources Department, Forest and TANGEDCO to resolve the issues of NHAI.
On 16 December, PWD and Highways Minister EV Velu held a five-hour meeting with 22 collectors, heads of line departments and chief general manager of NHAI. The Highways Secretary also held frequent meetings. A senior government official said, “The state government is providing a very high level of support to the NHAI projects. More than 80% of the issues have been resolved.”
(with inputs from Julie Mariyappan)
,