Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

PM orders `independent assessment' of project

By Govind D.Belgaumkar

BANGALORE May 29. An "independent assessment'' of the progress of the Rs. 25,000-crore Golden Quadrilateral Project has been taken up, reportedly on the directive of the Prime Minister, Atal BehariVajpayee.

According to sources, Deepak Das Gupta, former Chairman of National Highways Authority of India, is carrying out the assessment. Mr. Gupta had already visited Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for an inspection.

He recently toured parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to make an assessment of both the physical and financial progress of the ambitious project, which forms the first phase of the National Highway Development Project. The project links Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata with a high-quality four-lane road, providing for movement of vehicles at a speed of 100 km. per hour.

Mr. Gupta's visit assumes significance in view of the recent statement of the Minister for Surface Transport, B.C. Khanduri, that the project was running behind schedule by one year because of land acquisition problems in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa, and law and order problems in Bihar.

Though the project was scheduled for completion in December 2004, Maj. Gen. Khanduri advanced the schedule by a year, and was of the view till recently that the revised schedule would hold good. However, he surprised both the implementing agencies and the observers of the project by stating on May 22 that the project was running behind schedule by one year, and it would not be possible to advance the schedule to December 2003.

The sources said that Mr. Gupta visited Dharwad and Bangalore for an on-the-spot assessment. He is said to have driven along the National Highway 4 from the City to Sira near Tumkur where the National Highways Authority of India is implementing two of the 12 packages taken up in Karnataka. He reportedly inspected work under some of the other packages taken up between Dharwad and Haveri. Before arriving here, Mr. Gupta visited Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, to make an assessment of the progress achieved under the project in that State.

The sources said those implementing the project had no information about the visit of Mr. Gupta. There was pressure to complete the project at the earliest possible date and everyone was working dedicatedly.

However, the Minister issued a statement clarifying that the original schedule would hold good.

There was no need to give "a long rope'' to contractors and officers supervising the implementation of the project, the sources felt.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Editor of weekly opens fire at gang
• Temperature soars in Bangalore
• Steps to maximise energy efficiency
• MLA hails CM's decision on Chitravati dam
• PM orders `independent assessment' of project
• Promote SSIs to boost export: Baig
• Sankeshwar urged to join JD(S)
• `Sankeshwar trying to emulate Ramoji Rao'

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu