DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 26 (MExN): The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) initiated the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE) in April 2008. Subsequently, in April 2010, the Ministry approved a package for two-laning of four roads in Nagaland worth Rs. 1,296 cr. The works were accorded administrative, technical and financial sanction in December 2010.
Almost 15 years on and Rs 602.34 cr in expenses, “not a single kilometer in any of the four roads under the project was completed,” alleged the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) in a press release, on February 26.
The NPRAAF based the allegation on anomalies detected by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in the implementation of the SARDP-NE in Nagaland.
It said that as per the CAG report, tabled at the 1st Budget session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in March 2023, preliminary activities taken up by the Public Works Department (PWD) were inadequate for timely implementation of the project.
While it resulted in large deviation from the approved DPRs, it termed as a “waste” an amount of Rs. 36.44 cr paid to the consultant for preparation of DPRs.
“As a consequence, not a single kilometer in any of the four roads was completed as per the objectives of the scheme despite an expenditure of Rs. 602.34 crore on execution of work so far. No further progress of work has been achieved on any of the four roads since August 2012. The single-lane roads which previously existed had since degraded and have been rendered almost unusable causing hardship to the commuters,” the NPRAAF said quoting the CAG report.
While stating that the CAG findings cannot be brushed aside, despite public muteness, the NPRAAF demanded that the government set up an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation and punish the culprits responsible for siphoning public fund. The NPRAAF asserted that it will not stay quiet on the matter and will keep pressing the government until justice is delivered.
