The first phase of the project entailed connecting the four metros (kolkata, chennai, mumbai & delhi) with 4/6 lanes totalling 5846 km at a price of Rs 60,000 Cr.It was a very ambitious project, the largest express highway project in fact for India.Phase two to six to be followed would have changed the complete picture of the one of the pillars of infrastructure in India.However that was not to be!
The new Govt. formation saw a lot of quibbling going on,but thankfully a great person was chosen for the post of PM:Mr Manmohan Singh.Mr. Singh was instrumental in giving a new direction to Indian finances in his stint as finance minister of India.He opened up indian economy and ended the licence, permit, Quota raj.Libralisation was the new buzzword and India made rapid strides in economy.So it was only logical to assume that India would make rapid strides in the field of infrastructure development ,with National Highways Development Programme (NHDP)taking centre stage.A Re 1 surcharge was levied on each litre of petrol/diesel to fund the project.Also an investment of upto 50 lakhs in NHAI bond was declared to be tax free.
The world-class highways project is now a picture of missed deadlines, policy mumbo jumbo, red-tape, and most importantly, delayed economic benefits to the country.
Crucial stretches of the NHDP are not even near completion and are stalled.
The projects have been put on a back burner, contracts have been delayed or cut-off dates for bidding extended for lack of interest among contractors. As a result,only 9,400 km of the 32,939 km of the NHDP, encompassing all its six phases stands ready.
Itis a sad telling for the government of india. Just for petty politics and the game of showing one party superior,the entire project has been held to ransom. True,it was the pet project of prior Govt. but the ultimate winner would have been India as a nation and Indian people.
It is here that the integrity of our current PM comes in question.Why was such a crucial project stalled?Who should answer for it?It's true that he has handled several storms in the coalition politics nicely and has displayed superb tact in administering India but history would not be very kind to him.True he led India from the financial ruin, but when the calling came to take the gains forward, he was found wanting.The same project would now cost more money,the lost productivity notwithstanding!
May a time come when only the benefits to people and nation matter, not the benefit to a party or a faction.With this hope...
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