Cost and Time Overrun
Cost and Time Overrun
https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2023.54703
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
Abstract: Construction industry is one of the biggest and fast-growing industry in India which is providing employment to
millions of people and also contributing for economic development of nation. But the major and common problem faced by this
industry is cost overrun and time overrun. Therefore, there is need to study this topic. This research paper will help to
understand cost and time overrun in construction project. Hence the main aim of these paper is to identify the factors affecting
cost overrun and time overrun in construction project and provide suitable strategies to avoid it. Method used in this research is
both quantitative and qualitative method. Interviews were taken from some of the experienced professionals in this industry and
questionnaire survey is conducted to collect data from the respondent from contractor, consultant, clients and students. Total 81
respondent participated in the survey. From the result it is seen that for estimating cost, 73% respondent and for estimating time,
89% respondent use combination of calculation and experience. From the study it is also understood that the problem of cost
and time control is not only about the techniques being used it is also about the poor management of techniques and poor
supervision. Cost overrun refers to when project goes beyond the estimated cost and factors affecting cost overrun is Poor
Estimate, Design changes, Scope creep, Delays, Inflation, Poor project management, Unforeseen site conditions, Material and
labour cost fluctuations and Contractual disputes. Time overrun is when project get delayed beyond estimated schedule and
factors affecting time overrun is Project Planning, Design Changes, Weather Conditions, Workforce Productivity, Unforeseen
Conditions, Regulatory and Permitting Issues, Coordination and Communication. Based on this recommendation were given
with some strategies to avoid cost and time overrun in construction projects they are Accurate cost estimation, Risk assessment,
Effective project management, change management and Communication. Further research is required in project control
providing a checklist for the same, so that major points can be taken care of.
Keywords: Construction Industry, Cost overrun, Time overrun, Project Control, Project management software’s
I. INTRODUCTION
The Construction sector in India is the most important part of the Country’s Economy. This provides employment to about 54
million of people all over the country as per survey in 2021. It also contributes about 7-8% of GDP. Infrastructure activities
accounted for a 13% share of the total FDI inflows of USD 81.72 bn in financial year 2021. This shows how important it is to
control and manage the projects in good quality and efficiently.
For managing project successfully there are four fundamental constraints needs to be considered which are scope, cost, time, and
quality. It is necessary to consider whether the project is within those four constraints and how well these constraints are balanced.
Majority of construction projects in both developed and developing countries are facing the problems of cost overrun and time over.
According to a report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the average cost overrun in construction projects
in India was 37.5% between 2008 and 2012. Another study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi found that the average
cost overrun in infrastructure projects in India was around 20% to 25%. However, according to a report by the Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation, the average time overrun in projects monitored by them during the period of April 2020 to
December 2020 was 34.33%.
Therefore, it is very important to understand cost overrun and time overrun and factors affecting them. Cost overrun occurs when
the final cost or expenditure of the project exceeds the original estimation cost. And time overrun occur when project gets delayed
beyond its estimated completion time. Some of the major factors for cost overrun are Poor Estimate, Design changes, Scope creep,
Delays, Inflation, Poor project management, Unforeseen site conditions, Material and labour cost fluctuations and Contractual
disputes. And for time overrun are Project Planning, Design Changes, Weather Conditions, Workforce Productivity, Unforeseen
Conditions, Regulatory and Permitting Issues, Coordination and Communication. It is important to have control on the factors that
impact cost over runs and time over run which ultimately reduces the performance of the overall project.
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 535
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 536
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
Appraisal cost begins with inspection of incoming supplies. Failure cost are responses that occur repeatedly over time and
prevention/appraisal costs are the investments that provide cost benefits repeatedly. Project time management includes first proper
planning and then control and execution. If project is not planned properly and attempted to complete on fast track it will leads to
poor quality and increase cost. So if the project time is required to be compresses it should be planned with increase in labour and
equipment which lead to cost increase.
U.Sindhu Vaardini et al. (2016) in this paper describes about cost overrun which is most important problem faced by construction
industry. It is essential to have control on cost performance of projects to ensure if the construction cost is within the estimated
budget. Therefore, project cost management is needed to keep the project within its defined budget. The aim of this paper to identify
the factors affecting cost overrun in construction projects. For this literature review of various research paper on this topic is done
by author. Data collected from this research paper is analysed by most suitable method and factors were identified. Based on the
reviews it was identified that poor climatic conditions, improper planning and scheduling, fluctuations in the material rate, lack of
proper site management, monitoring and controlling, improper management of resources in construction project and poor financial
control in site can yield to cost overruns. Author also recommended that future studies on this topic can be done on different types
of projects like infrastructure projects, water supply, industrial and other specialized projects. And also, various studies can be done
to predict the actual cost of a project based upon the significant delay factors by constructing a prediction model.
Devanshu Pandit et al. (2014) in this research paper focuses on the role of project control from Indian perspective. The main role of
project control is to create system, procedures and tools to monitor and control project delivery. The paper identified the most
important 5 project control factors that are Safety, Quality, Cost, Schedule and Risk and then tried to explain each factor in detail.
Clear policies, procedures & standards, housekeeping, accessibility, use of PPE’s comes under Safety Section. QA Policies, Quality
audit, specification, control charts and analysis come under Quality control Section. Cost Estimates, Budget and Budgetary Controls,
Cost monitoring system and Change Order Management comes under Cost control section. Construction Schedule (Master
Schedule), Resource Schedule, Use of Software and tools for Schedule control comes under Schedule Control. Risk Identification,
Risk Analysis- Quantitative & Qualitative, Risk Mitigation, Risk Monitoring & Control comes under Risk Management. Further to
these studies author explains about Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is very useful in weighting and decision-making
problems. AHP is most popular decision-making method owing to its ability to reflect the way in which people think. AHP method
is used for weighing this 5 project control factors and based on this Quality control has highest weight of 32.71% followed by safety
at 23.64%, Risk management at 16.44%, Schedule control at 14.74% and cost control section has lowest weight of 12.48%. It
concludes that control related to quality and safety is more important than schedule and cost by the respondent.
George Otim et al. (2011) in this research paper first tried to identified the problem faced by contractors of Uganda in controlling
the cost on site. To identify this problem, researcher did a questionnaires survey on 130 sites in Nakawa division in Kampala city.
The scope is limited to current cost control techniques being used, problem faced and proposed solution. The cost control techniques
used by contractors on sites are schedules, site inspection, the project budget, meetings, cost and work progress records and reports,
monitoring work and cost performance and evaluation using bill of quantities. The problem includes delays by client to release
money, delays to make decision, lack of material and equipment, bad weather, overlapping of activity, unclear and incomplete
drawing, making good defective work and failure to control productivity of resources. It is also understood that the problem of cost
control is not about only the techniques being used, it is about the poor management of techniques and poor supervision. Then he
explained some most important points related to cost control on construction site which include Project resource and controls,
Materials, Plant, Labour and Time & Cost relationship.
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 537
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
Consultant 2 6 2 3 1 14
Contractor 12 11 4 2 3 32
Students 2 2
Total 25 35 6 10 5 81
A. Cost Overrun
Cost overrun occurs when the final cost or expenditure of the project exceeds the original estimated cost. It reduces the profit
ratio’s[1] which is mainly due to the complexity of major projects and inadequate management of the Man, Material, Machinery
and other resources required for the projects.
Cost Overrun Amount = Actual Expenses – Budgeted Amount
Cost Overrun Percentage = (Actual Expenses – Budgeted Amount) * 100%
Budgeted Amount
There are various factors that can contribute to cost overruns in construction projects. Some of the most common factors include [2]:
1) Poor Estimate: It is one of the biggest factors contributing for cost overrun. It may be due to the fact that at initial level there is
lack of information about the project.
2) Design Changes: When there are changes in the design of the project, it can lead to additional costs for materials, labour, and
equipment.
3) Scope Creep: This occurs when the project scope increases beyond what was initially planned. This can be due to client
demands, changes in regulations, or unexpected site conditions.
4) Delays: Construction delays can result from a variety of factors, including inclement weather, labour shortages, and equipment
breakdowns. These delays can increase costs due to extended project timelines and additional labour costs.
5) Inflation: Inflation can lead to increased costs for materials and labour, which can affect the overall cost of the project.
6) Poor Project Management: Inadequate project management can lead to cost overruns due to poor planning, and inefficient use
of resources.
7) Unforeseen Site Conditions: Unexpected site conditions such as soil instability, underground utilities, and hazardous materials
can result in additional costs for remediation and mitigation.
8) Material and Labour cost Fluctuations: Changes in the price of materials and labour can affect the overall cost of the project.
9) Contractual Disputes: Disputes with contractors and subcontractors can lead to delays and additional costs.
Overall, effective planning, communication, and risk management can help to minimize the risk of cost overruns in construction
projects.
Cost overruns can have significant impacts on a construction project. They can lead to delays, increase the total project cost, affect
the quality of work, and cause disputes between parties involved in the project. To prevent cost overruns, it is important to have a
well-planned and well-managed project from the outset.
Fig-1 shows the result obtained where respondents were asked about how the cost of their projects was determined which shows that
73% of the respondent determine cost based on combination of both calculations and there experience where as 21% of the
respondent use only calculations for determining their project cost.
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 538
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
By experience only 6%
B. Time Overruns
It is the phenomenon in which the project gets delayed beyond its expected completion time due to certain difficulties i.e., more
time is required to finish the project than initially planned [1]. In India majority of infrastructure project are affected by time
overruns. Iyer and Jha [6] has observed that over 40% of Indian construction projects had time overrun ranging from 1 to 252
months. Some of the basic reasons for time overruns are delay in land acquisition, political pressure and their election agenda, poor
program management, regulatory approval and scope change.
There are various factors that can contribute to time overruns in construction projects, including [1]:
1) Project Planning: Inadequate project planning and scheduling can lead to delays in completing the project. A well-planned
project with a clear timeline can help avoid delays and time overruns.
2) Design Changes: Changes in design can cause delays, especially if the change requires additional approvals or permits. It is
important to finalize the design before starting construction to minimize the risk of delays.
3) Weather Conditions: Inclement weather such as heavy rain, snow or extreme heat can hinder construction work and cause
delays.
4) Material Availability: Delays in receiving materials can cause work to stop, which can result in a project taking longer than
anticipated.
5) Workforce Productivity: Low productivity due to inefficient work processes, inadequate training or lack of motivation can lead
to delays and project overruns.
6) Unforeseen Conditions: Unforeseen circumstances such as site conditions, underground utilities, and environmental issues can
cause delays and cost overruns.
7) Regulatory and Permitting Issues: Delays in obtaining permits or complying with regulations can cause delays in the project.
8) Coordination and Communication: Poor communication and coordination between the various parties involved in the project
can cause delays and misunderstandings that can impact the timeline.
It is important to anticipate and manage these factors to minimize time overruns and ensure a successful construction project.
Fig-2 shows the result obtained where respondents were asked about how the duration of their projects was determined which shows
that 89% of the respondent determine their project duration based on combination of both calculations and there experience where
as 7% of the respondent use only experience for determining their project duration.
By comparing the result from Fig-1 and Fig-2 and interviewing the respondent it appears that contractors favour the use of
calculations and a combination of both calculations and experience to estimate the time duration of their construction projects while
consultant mostly utilise experience only. This can be due to the fact that consultants are mostly involved in estimation of project
duration at the early stage of the project where has at that stage availability of project information is limited to the client. And client
only needs rough idea of project duration.
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 539
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Fig – 3 Analytics on which software is used for project planning/ time/ cost control
Fig-4 shows the result of survey where contractor, client and consultant were asked about How frequently cost and time control
techniques being applied in their construction project. And the result shows that 64% always use, 33% rarely use and 3% do not use
cost and time control techniques in construction project. In spite of implementation and availability of cost and time control
techniques in construction project still some projects get delayed and could not complete in budget. The reason [7] for this is that the
problem of cost and time control is not only about the techniques being used it is also about the poor management of techniques and
poor supervision.
33%
64%
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 540
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue VII Jul 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com
V. CONCLUSION
The project is said to be successful only when it is completed in time, cost and required quality. These, paper will help us to
understand the most common problem of construction industry that is cost overrun and time overrun. Some of the most common
factors affecting cost overrun and time overrun in construction project is identified here. And based on this some strategies that can
help prevent cost overrun and time overrun is listed below:
1) Accurate Cost Estimation: Conduct a thorough analysis of the project requirements and develop an accurate cost estimate based
on the scope of work, materials required, and labour costs.
2) Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks that could affect the project and develop contingency plans to mitigate those risks.
3) Effective Project Management: Hire experienced project managers who can oversee the project and ensure that it is completed
on time and within budget.
4) Change Management: Implement a change management process that allows for changes to be made to the project plan while
minimizing their impact on the budget.
5) Communication: Establish clear communication channels between all parties involved in the project to ensure that everyone is
aware of any changes or issues that may impact the project budget.
By implementing these strategies, construction projects can be completed on time and within budget by minimizing the risk of cost
overruns and time overruns.
REFERENCES
[1] Aishwarya Prashant Patil (2017). “Analysis of Cost over-run in construction Projects”, International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET),
1234-1237.
[2] A.S. Ali, S.N. Kamaruzzaman (2010). “Cost performance for building construction projects in Klang valley”, Journal of Building Performance, 110-118.
[3] Harshita Ambre, Dhananjay Demse (2019). “Analysis of Cost Overrun in Construction Projects”, International Research Journal of Engineering and
Technology (IRJET), 5209-5213.
[4] Bojan Stojcetovic, Dragan Lazarevic, Bojan Prlincevic, Dejan Stajcic, Slavica Miletic (2014). “PROJECT MANAGEMENT: COST, TIME AND QUALITY”,
International Quality Conference, 345-350.
[5] U.Sindhu Vaardini , S.Karthiyayini, P.Ezhilmathi (2016). “STUDY ON COST OVERRUNS IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS –A REVIEW”, International
Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 356-363.
[6] Devanshu Pandit, S.M. Yadav, 2014, “Project Control Factors at Front End: Indian Perspective”, American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, pg.
77-82.
[7] George Otim , Fiona Nakaewa , Michael Kyakula,. (2011), “Cost Control Techniques used on building construction sites in Uganda,” Second International
Conference on Advances in Engineering and Technology, pg. 367-373.
[8] Shanmuganathan N, G.Baskar, 2016, “Effective cost and time management techniques used in construction industry”, International Journal of Advanced
Engineering Technology, pg. 743-747.
[9] Benviolent Chigara, Tirivavi Moyo, Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, 2013, “AN ANALYSIS OF COST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY
BUILDING CONTRACTORS ON PROJECTS IN ZIMBABWE”, International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering & Technology, pg. 1-13.
[10] Gopinath Selvam, T. Ch. Madhavi, T. P. Naazeema Begum & Monish Sudheesh, 2020, “Impact of labour productivity in estimating the duration of
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