STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Several Central Government projects have been running behind schedule in Assam, leading to cost overruns.
According to sources, a report of the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation says that around 52 Central Government's projects have been running behind schedule in the State. The estimated cost of the 52 protects was Rs 49,000 crore. However, the cost of the projects is set to be Rs 52,000 crore now due to a delay in their execution. Some of the projects got completed, but one-four years behind their scheduled target.
According to sources, the State Government has no role in such Central Government's projects. However, the construction companies of such projects blame it on the State Government for the delay in the land acquisition process that delays the projects. The construction companies say that despite communication with the State Government the district authorities cannot provide lands for such projects on time.
The construction companies also say that the longer monsoon in Assam leaves them a shorter working season. That also leads to delay in the execution of projects, the companies say.
Earlier, the Centre did take up the issue of delay in land acquisition for Central projects in Assam with the State Government. Dispur also instructed the deputy commissioners to clear land acquisition as early as possible. Even after that hiccups at local levels delay the process of land acquisition in the state.
Till June 2021, 12 of the 52 central projects got delayed by 10-63 months, but not yet completed, even after spending Rs 9,000 crore.
The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reviews projects costing over Rs 150 crore. Some of the Central projects running behind schedule in Assam are – the Rs 470-crore Digaru-Hojai BG line, Rs 2232-crore Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Guwahati double BG line, Rs 500-crore Dimapur Bypass (Assam stretch), etc.
Some of the Central projects completed behind schedules are – the IOC Project at Silchar got completed 22 months behind schedule, the Tetelia-Byrnihat BG line got completed 48 months behind schedule, Demow-Moran four-lane highway completed 63 months behind schedule and Janji-Demow highway got completed 42 months behind schedule.
Sources in the State Government say that delay in land acquisition is a problem in Assam, but that is not the sole reason for the delay in the execution of projects in the state. Such construction companies have lapses on their part but they always hush them up. "Since such contractors get work orders directly from the Centre, we cannot interfere in their works," a source said.
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