Delay in Eastern Freeway increases the cost by Rs 259 crore
12 Apr, 2014Reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali has brought to fore certain facts about the third phase of the Eastern Freeway up to Ghatkopar.
· the third phase of the Eastern Freeway is likely to be thrown open to motorists this month.
· the cost of the project rose from Rs 847 crore to Rs 1,106 crore due to delay which transforms into a hike of nearly 23% in cost since the start of work in 2007.
· the setback in the project arose on account of delay in rehabilitation of project-affected people and also sluggish pace of work.
· the work order was issued in January 2008 and it was expected that the work on the stretch between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya to Anik Junction would be completed by January 18, 2011.
With a delay of 29 months, the Panjrapol-Ghatkopar Link Road which was scheduled to be completed by February 2011, has already missed the extended deadline of December 2013. In this case, the cost has increased from the original estimate of Rs 168 crore to nearly Rs 294 crore.
Cost and time overruns are becoming a regular feature of any project in the country which gives an impression that there is little control on the project implementation.