The entire length of Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) has been completed, except 110 meters. The North - South and East - West Corridor has also been completed, except 636 km under implementation and 372 km to be awarded. 

The details of funds allocated and released to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for National Highways Development Project (NHDP) including GQ and North - South and East - West projects during the last three years are -

                                                                               (Rs in crore)

There are some delays in implementation of some projects due to land acquisition, shifting of utilities, non-availability of soil, aggregates, environmental, forest, wild life clearance, non-availability / lack of equity with the Concessionaires, poor performance of contractors, public agitation for additional facilities, arbitration / contractual disputes with contractors, delay in achieving financial closure, clearance of rail over bridges / rail under bridge, shortage of skilled / semi-skilled manpower, law & order problem and economic slowdown.  In order to expedite implementation of the Projects, Regional Offices have been set up by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) headed by Chief General Manager.  Powers have been delegated to the Chief General Managers. Special land acquisition units are also set up to expedite land acquisition. Chief Secretaries of State Government have also been nominated as Nodal officers to expedite construction of highway projects. Projects are also closely and periodically reviewed at Headquarter as well as field units.  Recently, the issues of delinking environmental clearance from forest clearance and exempting linear stretches from the requirement of NOC from Gram Sabha have been resolved.  Reserve Bank of India has given dispensation to treat the debt due to lenders, to the extent assured by Project Authorities in terms of concession agreement, as secured loan.

This was stated by Shri Sarvey Sathyanarayana, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in response to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday.

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