According to the project implementation division of the ministry of statistics and programme implementation the number of central projects across various sectors that were completed in 2009-10 stood at a dismal 97; only 17 per cent of the total 557 projects due for completion during that year. Year 2008-09 was pegged better with 124 projects or one-third of the 429 projects due for commissioning were actually completed.

Central Government projects have been perennially troubled by delays in implementation due to a variety of reasons such as fund constraints, land acquisition problems, delay in supply of equipment and law and order issues. Sectors such as roads, railways, coal, petroleum and power continued to face steep time overruns on projects, even after schedules for completion were revised.

The percentage of cost overruns stood marginally higher at 14.7 per cent in March 2010, from 13.4 per cent in March 2009.