**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1081 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 5th, 2026, regarding delays in National Highway construction in Maharashtra. The Minister of Road Transport and Highways provides data on construction progress over the past five years, reasons for project delays, and steps taken to expedite stalled projects. The target for 2025-26 is 990 km of NH construction.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Construction Progress:**
* Provides year-wise details of NH construction length in Maharashtra from 2020-21 to 2025-26 (up to Dec 2025), with 2870 km constructed in 2020-21 and 552 km constructed till Dec 2025.
* Sets a target of 990 km for NH construction in Maharashtra for the year 2025-26.
* **Reasons for Delays:**
* Delays are attributed to Right of Way (ROW) disputes, land acquisition issues, forest and wildlife clearances, utility shifting, pre-construction activities, and contractor cash flow problems.
* Pending issues have been substantially resolved, and delayed projects are targeted for completion within revised timelines.
* **Government Initiatives for Timely Completion:**
* Streamlining and expediting land acquisition through "Bhoomirashi" portal and GIS-based Land Acquisition Plan.
* Revamping "Parivesh" Portal for faster forest and environmental clearances.
* Enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GAD) for Road Over Bridge/Road Under Bridge (ROB/RUB) from the Railways.
* Leveraging the review and resolution of bottlenecks mechanism in collaboration with State Governments.
* Railways has launched a web portal for Railway related clearances with defined timelines.
* **Monitoring and Resolution Mechanisms:**
* Strong framework using multiple mechanisms for monitoring project progress and contractor efficiencies.
* Regular review meetings at various levels with stakeholders.
* Liquidated damages imposed against contractors for delays, including contract termination.
* State Governments conduct coordination meetings led by the Chief Secretary.
* Unresolved issues are escalated through the Project Monitoring Group and "PRAGATI".
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
* **Impact:** Required to monitor project progress, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure timely completion of NH projects in Maharashtra.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing the initiatives outlined in the response, monitor progress, and address unresolved issues through the established mechanisms.
**Stakeholder: Contractors**
* **Impact:** Subject to stricter monitoring, potential penalties for delays, and possible contract termination if performance is unsatisfactory.
* **Action Required:** Improve efficiency, address cash flow issues, and comply with revised project timelines.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Needs to collaborate with the Union Government to resolve land acquisition and clearance issues.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in coordination meetings, facilitate land acquisition, and expedite clearances.
**Stakeholder: Railways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for timely approval of ROB/RUB General Arrangement Drawings (GAD) and Railway related clearances.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the new web portal for Railway related clearances and adhere to defined timelines for approvals.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra: The state where National Highway construction delays are being addressed.
Bhoomirashi: Portal used for streamlining land acquisition for NH projects.
Parivesh: Portal used for facilitating faster forest and environmental clearances.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary ministry responsible for national highway construction.
National Highways: Subject of the construction and delays, impacts scope.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1081
ANSWERED ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2026
DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN MAHARASHTRA
1081. SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:
SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:
Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has taken note of the reported
slowdown in National Highway construction in Maharashtra, including the
total length constructed during the last five years, year-wise and the
progress achieved in 2024-25 vis-à-vis the targets fixed for 2025-26;
(b) whether major highway, expressway or corridor projects in the State
have been delayed or stalled and if so, the project-wise reasons, cost
overruns and revised timelines;
(c) whether the impact of land acquisition delays, financing constraints,
contractor capacity issues and pending clearances has been assessed; and
(d) the steps taken to expedite stalled projects, improve coordination
with the State Government, ensure timely fund release and mitigate
adverse effects on employment, rural connectivity and industrial logistics
in Maharashtra?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The details of the target set and achievement for construction of
National Highways (NHs) in Maharashtra during the last five years is as
under:Financial Year Length of NHs constructed in Maharashtra
2020-21 2870
2021-22 1534
2022-23 1087
2023-24 1463
2024-25 1203
2025-26 (upto Dec 2025) 552
The target for 2025-26 for length of NH constructed in Maharashtra is 990
km.
(b) to (c) There have been delays in completion of some NH projects due to
existing Right of Way (ROW) disputes, delays in land acquisition, forest as
well as wildlife clearances, delays in utility shifting and other pre-
construction activities as well as cash flow issues with some of the
Contractors. All the pending issues have been substantially resolved and
these delayed projects are targeted for completion within the revised
timelines in a phased manner.
(d) In order to ensure timely completion of NH projects, the Government
has undertaken various initiatives. These include streamlining and
expediting land acquisition using “Bhoomirashi” portal and GIS-based Land
Acquisition Plan, revamping “Parivesh” Portal to facilitate faster forest and
environmental clearances, enabling online approval of General
Arrangement Drawings (GAD) of Road Over Bridge/Road Under Bridge
(ROB/RUB) from the Railways, and leveraging the mechanism of review and
resolution of bottlenecks / hindrances in ongoing projects, in active
collaboration with the State Governments and other stakeholders.
Railways has also launched a web portal for Railway related clearances
with defined timelines for various approvals.
The Government has put in place a strong framework using multiple
mechanisms for monitoring project progress and contractor inefficiencies.
Regular review meetings are conducted at various levels with stakeholdersto assess project progress, and critical projects, such as those delayed by
more than three years or pending for award / appointment. In addition to
this, liquidated damages have been imposed against the Contractors for
delays attributed to the Contractors including termination of the Contract
and awarding the balance works at risk and cost of the previous
Contractors.
Further, many State Governments conduct coordination meetings led
by the Chief Secretary to resolve issues affecting project execution.
Projects where issues remain unresolved are escalated for further review
through the Project Monitoring Group and “PRAGATI”.
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