[ad_1]
NEW DELHI: The cost of the country’s first ‘high speed rail’, or bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, is likely to cross Rs 1. 6 lakh crore excluding GST due to delay in its implementation, primarily on account of Covid-19 pandemic and land acquisition issues. In the feasibility study in 2015, the estimated cost was pegged at Rs 1. 08 lakh crore.
While sources said high increase in the cost is a foregone conclusion considering increased expenditure on land acquisition, rise in prices of cement, steel and other raw materials, the project implementation agency — National HighSpeed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) — maintained that the revised cost can be arrived at only “after the award of all the contracts and completion of land acquisition”.
The 508-km project, had the initial deadline of 2022 end for its full operation. Official data shows that till now 100% land has been acquired only in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. While in Gujarat the land acquisition is around 98. 9%, it’s barely 73% in Maharashtra. The Centre has been maintaining that delay in land acquisition in Maharashtra is the key contributor for slow progress in the project.
While sources said high increase in the cost is a foregone conclusion considering increased expenditure on land acquisition, rise in prices of cement, steel and other raw materials, the project implementation agency — National HighSpeed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) — maintained that the revised cost can be arrived at only “after the award of all the contracts and completion of land acquisition”.
The 508-km project, had the initial deadline of 2022 end for its full operation. Official data shows that till now 100% land has been acquired only in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. While in Gujarat the land acquisition is around 98. 9%, it’s barely 73% in Maharashtra. The Centre has been maintaining that delay in land acquisition in Maharashtra is the key contributor for slow progress in the project.
[ad_2]
Source link