PAC questions NHAI on delay in Bharatmala project 

Bharatmala project’s first phase, which had received Cabinet approval in October 2017, is aimed at developing 34,800 km of roads across 550 districts in 31 States and Union Territories
| Photo Credit: VEDHAN M

Members of the Public Accounts Committee headed by senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal on Thursday (March 6, 2025) questioned the unusual delay and cost escalation in the Bharatmala Pariyojana road development project.

The project’s first phase, which had received Cabinet approval in October 2017, is aimed at developing 34,800 km of roads across 550 districts in 31 States and Union Territories. 

As of January 31, 2025, of 34,800 km of roads, 26,425 km had been awarded at a cost of ₹8.53 lakh crore. This far outstriped the initial outlay of ₹5,35,000 crore. The project too was lagging behind. While its completion deadline was September 2022, due to delays and rise in the cost of land acquisition, the project cost increased manifold. The project was likely to be completed by 2027-28.

The project had come under the committee’s scanner in 2023, when it took note of a CAG report, and reviewed the project. The National Highway Authority of India was asked by members about the steps taken to arrest the cost overruns and to speed up execution of the project. 

Panel member and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal told reporters, “The phase-1 of the project had to be completed in three years but it has been five years now. We have asked NHAI for a response to the issues we raised in our earlier report.” 

The panel also visited the Dwarka Expressway in Delhi-NCR as part of their deliberations on “levy and regulation of fees, tariffs, user charges etc., on public infrastructure”. “We are getting many complaints from the public. We will examine everything from fees, tariffs, infrastructure and road safety provisions,” Mr. Venugopal said.