The second phase of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) may end by December 2008 or even later. It may be noted that the official deadline of the completion of second phase is December 2007. The second phase consists of four laning of national highways pertaining to the north-south east-west (NSEW) corridor. Going by the official data of the ministry of roads, highways and shipping, out of the total 197 projects under NSEW, 54 are yet to be awarded and 101 projects are still at various stages of completion. Sources attribute this delay to a long lull in awarding contracts during the second half of last year.