N.K.Singh: Cost and time over runs of Ministries projects

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 44 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2013
Cost and time over runs of Ministries projects
44. SHRI N.K. SINGH
JANARDHAN WAGHMARE

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Government has any mechanism for reducing and preventing cost and time over-runs of projects undertaken by the Ministry in other countries; if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether Government has been successful in reducing the cost and time over-runs of these projects undertaken for the past three years; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) The Ministry has established mechanisms for reducing and preventing cost and time over-runs of projects undertaken by the Ministry in other countries, the details of which are as below:

(i) Development Partnership Administration (DPA) was set-up in the Ministry of External Affairs in January, 2012 to effectively handle and monitor India’s development assistance projects abroad through the stages of conception, launch, execution and completion; and (ii) Regular meetings of bilateral Project Steering Committees, and site visits are arranged, as required, to review, monitor and address factors affecting timely and effective implementation of projects.

(b) & (c) The projects undertaken for the past three years by the Ministry in other countries are on-going and at different stages of execution. These projects are monitored closely by the respective Project Authorities/Steering Committees and, barring unforeseen local factors, are so far proceeding satisfactorily.