New Delhi: Land acquisition is a major problem in road construction projects and state governments should come out with solutions and help find a way out, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Replying to queries during Question Hour, he said the main problem in delay of projects was land acquisition as the cost was very high in some states, but claimed his ministry had saved NPAs worth 3 lakh crore during the past five years through early implementation.
Gadkari said some state governments are now coming forward to assure the ministry of easing land acquisition process and bearing its cost, which is helping in early implementation of projects.
"The main problem relates to land acquisition. Land acquisition cost is very high and problematic. In the last regime, we have awarded projects worth Rs 11 lakh crore.
"Land acquisition is so much that it is very difficult for the government to bear the cost. This is the time for the state government that we should find a solution," he told the Upper House.
Gadkari cited the example of Uttar Pradesh, where the state government has taken responsibility for giving 50 per cent cost for the ring road.
He said many states are coming forward, but this is a very serious problem in Kerala, because the cost of land is so high that it is beyond imagination. "We want to find a solution, but state government has to bear the cost and find a way out," he said, adding projects are not delayed because of land acquisition any longer now.
"There were 403 projects pending when Narendra Modi came to power involving a cost of 3,85,000 crore. It is a great achievement of Indian government that we saved bankers of Rs 3 lakh crore of NPAs and now 90 per cent of projects are moving fast," he said.
The minister said his ministry was not moving forward with the project without 80 per cent of land acquisition and this principle is being followed very strictly.
He said the ministry is also using best technology and information from satellites.
The maximum problem relating to construction is due to DPR and "we are using satellite, drones and new types of technology for construction," he informed members.
The minister said Bharatmala-2 project involves laying of 65000 kms, of which work on 8,000 kms has already been awarded.
"The total cost is going upto 10 lakh crore. We are raising money from capital market and the Finance Ministry has not given us a single rupee for Bharatmala project," he said.