Causes of Time Delay and Cost Overrun of Rural Road Projects in ‎Afghanistan

Abstract

‎‎ The increasing frequency of cost overrun and time delay in rural road projects has been a concern for the government of Afghanistan. Based on a review of the MIS data from the MoPW and MRRD, almost all rural road projects which were implemented from 2015 to 2020 was not finished within fixed cost and time. In this study, the researcher found out the causes of time delay and cost overrun of rural road projects in Afghanistan. The study dwells on the qualitative approach and an open-ended interview were conducted with 10 people which are project managers, projects engineers, and employees of MRRD and MoPW and their contractors. According to the interviewees, there are 25 factors behind time delay and cost overrun of rural road projects in the country (16 for time delay and 9 for cost overrun). As a result of the volume of work that has to be done and resources to be utilized, there is the need to adopt best practices and strategies to ensure efficiency and quality delivery of service. The study recommends that the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) and Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) as main implementers of rural road projects in the country must strive to improve on their administrative role of monitoring the various contract management methods. By considering best strategies, practices are always adhered to, so that there will be successful road projects delivering in terms of fixed cost finishing with no further time extension.‎‎ The increasing frequency of cost overrun and time delay in rural road projects has been a concern for the government of Afghanistan. Based on a review of the MIS data from the MoPW and MRRD, almost all rural road projects which were implemented from 2015 to 2020 was not finished within fixed cost and time. In this study, the researcher found out the causes of time delay and cost overrun of rural road projects in Afghanistan. The study dwells on the qualitative approach and an open-ended interview were conducted with 10 people which are project managers, projects engineers, and employees of MRRD and MoPW and their contractors. According to the interviewees, there are 25 factors behind time delay and cost overrun of rural road projects in the country (16 for time delay and 9 for cost overrun). As a result of the volume of work that has to be done and resources to be utilized, there is the need to adopt best practices and strategies to ensure efficiency and quality delivery of service. The study recommends that the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) and Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) as main implementers of rural road projects in the country must strive to improve on their administrative role of monitoring the various contract management methods. By considering best strategies, practices are always adhered to, so that there will be successful road projects delivering in terms of fixed cost finishing with no further time extension.