Umroi (Meghalaya) : Delayed land acquisition and environment clearances have stalled more than 270 projects across the country, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said. “When I took charge as minister, there were more than 270 projects (which were) stuck because of land acquisition problems, forest environment clearances, railway bridges problem and because of that the cost of the projects was pegged at Rs 3,80,000 crore,” he said.
Stating that this was not good for the country, the Union Minister said, “With golden handshake we have terminated 44 projects that cost more than Rs 90,000 crore. The remaining projects have already been started,” he said.
Gadkari said a new policy was announced by him in Arunachal Pradesh in which state governments would be responsible for land acquisition and getting environment and forest clearances, while the Centre will bear the construction costs of important roads which are not national highways.
