Date of Publication :7th December 2016

Abstract: India’s long-standing problems in delay in highway project included lack of funding, weak capability to implement projects, poor policy coordination, and delays in decision making. The government took actions to fill up the financing gap, such as increasing the funds for highway development and facilitating private sector participation. Despite these efforts, fundamental issues still remained including introducing more sophisticated financial instruments, diversifying methods to involve the private sector, and enhancing the financial and managerial autonomy of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for eventual corporatization. During last financial year about 40% of projects totaling 14,000 km and costing around Rs 94,000 crores got delayed, and 70% of these are managed by NHAI and the total cost of these works is close to Rs 80,500 crores. NHAI was implementing 185 projects during 2014-15 costing Rs 1.36 lakh crores. Out of the 185 projects, 120 were delayed. This covered 9,376 km and their total cost was around Rs 80,500 crore. The major role in the delay of project is due to Land Acquisition, which is a major part of concern in our research work. The paper deals with analysis of Western Transport Corridor which was funded by ADB. The Western Transport Corridor, comprising NH-8 and NH-4, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai (Golden Quadrilateral) is one of the busiest corridors in India. The section between Bangalore and Mumbai falling within NH-4 also has high traffic volume. At appraisal, the project was envisaged to be implemented over 48 months, inclusive of procurement and pre-construction activities, and was expected to be completed by 30 June 2005 but it was completed on 7 August 2012.

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