Of the 14 port connectivity projects, which include road connectivity work in major ports like Haldia, Tuticorin and Cochin, the government has been able to complete the work in just two projects?Vishakapatnam and Jawaharlal Nehru port (package-I). Work in most of the other port connectivity projects are delayed by at least three years.
The work in Tuticorin, Cochin and Haldia ports were delayed as the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways had terminated the contracts of joint venture partners CWHEC of China and HCIL of India and Meacon respectively, some time last year. This was due to their inability to complete the port connectivity projects within the stipulated time frame. NHAI had issued termination letters to the non-performing contractors in these major ports last year. In the case of Mangalore port, a timespan of two months was granted to the contractors (Ircon) to start performing.
There are at least four port connectivity projects, which are running behind schedule . The Haldia port connectivity project, on NH-41, is delayed by almost three years and only about 42% of the work has been done. The project was offered to a joint venture company between CWHEC of China and HCIL of India in September 2002. The original date for the completion of the 53-km stretch was March 2005, whereas the revised date was June 2007. The project cost was Rs 273 crore and the JV had spent only Rs 121 crore.
For the New Mangalore port connectivity project, Ircon International had spent just about Rs 10 crore. The length of the projects is 37 km on NH-17, NH-48 and NH-13. The project is estimated to cost Rs 196 crore and is to be completed by December 2008. It was offered in June 2005. Meacon, the Ranchi based company had failed in both the projects it has undertaken ? the Turicorin and the Cochin port connectivity projects, both of which are major ports. The Tuticorin port connectivity project was offered in February, 2004 and was to be completed by August, 2006. Of the total projected cost of Rs 231 crore, Meacon had spent Rs 71 crore only and not a single penny during 2007-08, a shipping ministry official said. Only 22.4% work was done on the stretch. Meacon?s contract has been terminated.
For the Cochin project, already delayed by over eight months, Meacon had spent Rs 42 crore of the total Rs 106 crore on the 10.45-km stretch on NH-47. During 2006-07 the company spent only Rs 1.44 crore and completed 41% after which the contract was terminated. ?These are very critical projects, given the focus of the government for port and infrastructure development. We will certainly ensure that the projects are completed soon.
