BANGALORE: Political intervention is bogging down execution of the second stage of the World Bank-assisted Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project - II (KSHIP-II), envisaged to upgrade 68 km of five important stretches of State Highways, the first component of which costs Rs 657 crore.According to official sources, a mere 1.59 per cent progress has been made ever since the contract was signed with five different firms, including Mumbai-based Roman Tarmat and two Hyderabad-based companies.In fact, the Centre had also recommended for a loan assistance of Rs 4500 crore from the World Bank for the entire project, at 10 per cent interest.Sources said that the state government has released only five per cent of the project cost to contractors as against the stipulated norm of 10 per cent as advance to commence work despite there being no shortage of funds. Also, the transfer of officials trained by the World Bank for the execution of KSHIP-II has resulted in tardy progress of work, sources added.Taking exception to the delays in the project, the Principal Secretary of Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department has sought a detailed explanation from the Project Director of the KSHIP-II.The Principal Secretary, in a letter addressed to the Project Director of KSHIPII, makes mention about the poor progress by the five firms which won the bid to execute the project.An objective explanation on the delay in the project and measures to put the back on track have also been demanded. The entire project involves upgrading 831 km of State Highways to 2-lane roads in different packages.The World Bank has already released Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade 268 km of five important road stretches.The progress of the World Bank aided KSHIP-II project has been monitored by consultants appointed by it.No such delay, says official-in-chargeSeeking to clarify on the delays in execution of KSHP-II, Project Engineer of KSHIP-II Prakash Kumar denied reports about the delay in execution of the project.In a cryptic reply, he told Express, “There is no delay, the project is progressing on expected lines.”Under the second phase of the Rs 4,500 crore project, which has five components, KSHIP-II, the following roads are to be upgraded:■ Hoskote to Chintamani bypass road - 52.40 km, cost - Rs 121.38 crore■ Haveri to Tadasa (NH4) - 75.26 km, cost - Rs 164 crore■ Dharwad-Saundatti road: 38.50 km, cost - Rs 102 crore■ Tinthini to Kalmala - 73.80 km, cost - Rs 193 crore■ Chowdapur to Gulbarga - 28.63 km, cost - Rs 76.92 crore.
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