369 infrastructure projects show cost overruns of over Rs. 3.58 lakh crore.

As many as 369 infrastructure projects, each worth Rs. 150 crore or above, have shown cost overruns of over Rs. 3.58 trn owing to delays and other reasons, a Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation report said last week. “Total original cost of implementation of the 1,420 projects was Rs. 18,05,667.72 cr and their anticipated completion cost is likely to be Rs. 21,63,672.09 crore, which reflects overall cost overruns of Rs. 3,58,004.37 crore (19.83% of original cost),” the ministry’s latest report for September, 2018 said. Of these 1,420 projects, 369 reported cost overruns and 366, time escalation. According to the report, the expenditure incurred on these projects till September 2018 is Rs. 7,83,503 crore, which is 36.21% of their anticipated cost. The ministry monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs. 150 crore and above.

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS