The government today said more than half of the 602 projects, costing over Rs 100 crore, are running late by up to 16 years.
"As on July 31, 2009, out of 602 Central sector projects costing Rs 100 crore and above on the flash report system of this ministry, 327 projects are reporting delays in the range of 1-192 months," Statistics & Programme Implementation Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.
Out of the 327 delayed projects, the maximum (143) are in the road transport and highways sector, he said, adding there are 38 railways projects, 36 power projects, 31 petroleum projects, 24 telecom projects, 22 steel projects, and 18 coal projects that are running delayed, among others.
Jaiswal further said the government has taken corrective measures to complete these projects without further delays. These include adequate provision of funds for implementation, setting up of an empowered committee in the administrative ministries for review and resolving problems relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation related issues, forest clearances, infrastructure facilities, among others.