India, March 26 -- The reactive nature of maintenance budgeting of highways, the inability to effectively utilise research and development funds, and slow progress in key areas such as port connectivity projects under Bharatmala were among the many concerns flagged by the department-related parliamentary standing report submitted in Parliament on Wednesday.

The report highlighted that while overall budget utilisation might suggest good absorption funds, there is a wide variation across verticals.

"The ministry stated that budget utilisation has been consistently above 99% in recent years, with 90% utilisation expected in the current year with Rs. 870 crore pending. The Committee observes that while the aggregate capital head shows high ...