CAG Report Highlights Toll Overcharges, UDAN Delays, and Unsanctioned Railway Costs

CAG Report Highlights Toll Overcharges, UDAN Delays, and Unsanctioned Railway Costs

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has released a report highlighting a number of financial irregularities in the implementation of infrastructure projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), and the Ministry of Railways (MoR).

The report found that NHAI had overcharged tolls on five toll plazas in the country, resulting in an undue burden of Rs. 132.05 crore on road users. The report also found that NHAI had collected excess toll fees of Rs. 22.10 crore at the Paranur public-funded toll plaza.

In addition, the report found that the MoCA had delayed the implementation of the UDAN scheme, which was aimed at making air travel more affordable and accessible to people in smaller cities. The report said that the scheme had been delayed by 24 months, and that this had resulted in a loss of revenue of Rs. 1,080 crore.

The report also found that the MoR had incurred unsanctioned expenditure of Rs. 23,885.47 crore in the financial year 2021-22. This expenditure was incurred on a variety of projects, including the construction of new railway lines, the electrification of existing lines, and the procurement of rolling stock.

The CAG report has raised concerns about the financial management of these important infrastructure projects. The report has also called for action to be taken to recover the excess tolls that have been collected by NHAI, and to ensure that the UDAN scheme is implemented on time and within budget.

NHAI Toll Overcharges

The CAG report found that NHAI had overcharged tolls on five toll plazas in the country. These toll plazas were located in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana.

The report found that NHAI had charged tolls that were higher than the maximum permissible limits set by the government. In some cases, the tolls were as high as double the maximum permissible limit.

The report said that the excess tolls that had been collected amounted to Rs. 132.05 crore. This money had been paid by road users, and it was an undue burden on them.

UDAN Delays

The UDAN scheme was launched by the MoCA in 2016. The scheme was aimed at making air travel more affordable and accessible to people in smaller cities.

The CAG report found that the MoCA had delayed the implementation of the UDAN scheme by 24 months. This was due to a number of factors, including delays in the acquisition of land, delays in the construction of airports, and delays in the procurement of aircraft.

The report said that the delay in the implementation of the UDAN scheme had resulted in a loss of revenue of Rs. 1,080 crore. This revenue would have been generated from the sale of tickets and from the development of ancillary businesses around the airports.

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Unsanctioned Railway Expenditure

The MoR had incurred unsanctioned expenditure of Rs. 23,885.47 crore in the financial year 2021-22. This expenditure was incurred on a variety of projects, including the construction of new railway lines, the electrification of existing lines, and the procurement of rolling stock.

The CAG report found that the unsanctioned expenditure had been incurred without the approval of the government. The report said that this was a violation of the rules and regulations governing public expenditure.

The report also found that the unsanctioned expenditure had not been properly accounted for. This made it difficult to track the use of the funds and to ensure that they were used for the intended purpose.

Conclusion

The CAG report has raised concerns about the financial management of these important infrastructure projects. The report has also called for action to be taken to recover the excess tolls that have been collected by NHAI, and to ensure that the UDAN scheme is implemented on time and within budget.

The report has also highlighted the need for better financial oversight of these projects. The government needs to put in place stronger measures to ensure that public money is used efficiently and effectively.

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