New Delhi, Nov 25 : A total of 327 projects were behind schedule by one month to 16 years, with the maximum defaults in the road transport sector, according to the data available with the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.

"As of 31st July, out of 602 central sector projects each costing Rs. 100 crore or above, 327 projects are reporting delays in the range of one to 192 months," Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha Wednesday.

In July alone, 51 projects reported additional delays ranging from one to 51 months.

The estimated cost overrun on account of the delays stands at Rs. 9,297.23 crore.

Some other sectors where a significant number of projects were found to be lagging are railways, power, telecommunications and steel.(IANS)