Date:27/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072704150700.htm

Back Golden Quadrilateral: 96% work to be over by Dec

Our Bureau

New Delhi , July 26

About 96 per cent of the Golden Quadrilateral is targeted for completion by December this year. Rest of the stretches are affected due to non-performance of the contractor, re-award of terminated contracts and also award of Allahabad bypass in 2004 with completion date in 2007, the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr K.H. Muniyappa, said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Out of the total road length of 5,846 km, 92.5 per cent has been completed by June, he said.

The remaining work has suffered mainly due to delays in land acquisition, utilities shifting by respective State Governments, contractual problems, litigation and excessive rains in some of the States, he said. The expenditure on the Golden Quadrilateral up to June 30 is within the total approved cost allowing for escalation. The cost overrun if any, will be known only after the completion of project, he said.