6,604 km of roads completed till Feb.

The target of construction of National Highways is 15,000 km, of which 6,604 km have been completed till February in the current financial year 2016-17, stated an official release.

The slow speed of construction of National Highways (NHs) is mainly due to land acquisition, utility shifting, non-availability of soil/aggregates, poor performance of contractors, environment/forest/wildlife clearance, road overbridge and road under-bridge issue with the Railways, public agitation for additional facilities, arbitration and contractual disputes with contractors, among others.

The Ministry has empanelled national-level project monitors for monitoring of critical and languishing highway projects across the country. This information was given by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

HBL