MoSPI reported 343 infra projects hit with cost overruns

The erstwhile East Delhi Municipal Corporation region is yet to get its own Parking Area Management Plan (PAMP). Last year, senior officials informed that they were in the process to hire a private agency that will assist the civic body in the survey for PAMP.

Haryana to merge and re-organise Administrative Departments

NEW DELHI: A recent report from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India stated that close to 343 infrastructure projects have been hit with cost overruns of `4.5 lakh crore. 343 projects out of 1,438, with investments of `150 crore and more, have been reported for cost overruns and 835 projects have been delayed.

According to the Ministry’s report, “Total original cost of implementation of the 1,438 projects was `20,35,794.75 crore and their anticipated completion cost is likely to be `24,86,069.52 crore, which reflects overall cost overruns of

`4,50,274.77crore (22.12 per cent of original cost).”

The report showed that for 342 projects, neither the year of commissioning nor the tentative gestation period has been reported. And if the delay is calculated on the basis of the latest schedule of completion, the number of delayed projects decreases to 673 projects.

Reasons for time overruns include delay in land acquisition, delay in obtaining forest and environmental clearances, and lack of infrastructure support and linkages as reported by various project implementing agencies.

Delay in tie-up for project financing, finalisation of detailed engineering, change in scope, tendering, ordering and equipment supply, and law and order problems were among the other reasons.

The Haryana Government has decided to merge and re-organise Administrative Departments having similar work to improve efficiency and synergise functioning. Under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, the state cabinet has approved the proposal regarding the same.

MCD aiming at open-defecation free tag

Senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) informed that the unified civic body is planning to reapply for open defecation-free (ODF) certification. Local body official from the Department of Environment Management Services (sanitation wing) informed that MCD will reapply for certification under the ODF++ category.