Triggers of Delays in International Projects Using Engineering Procurement and Construction Delivery Methods in the Belt and Road Initiative: Case Study of a High-Speed Railway Projects

Mohammad Ajmal Nikjow, Li Liang, Xijing Qi, Samad M. E. Sepasgozar and Nicholas Chileshe
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Mohammad Ajmal Nikjow: College of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Li Liang: College of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Xijing Qi: College of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Samad M. E. Sepasgozar: School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Nicholas Chileshe: UniSA STEM, Scarce Resources and Circular Economy (ScarCE), University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been put in practice by the Chinese government, several High-Speed Railways (HSR) have been built by Chinese Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms. However, many delays have created severe detrimental consequences on the progress of most HSR projects. This study sought to explore the essence of the recurring triggers of delays in international EPC HSR projects under the BRI, and a structured questionnaire survey approach was applied to compile the first-hand dataset from Chinese EPC firms working for BRI infrastructure projects. The data were evaluated, and the Relative Importance Index (RII) was adopted to assess the magnitude of the important delay triggers. The findings suggest that HSR projects are still susceptible to unavoidable delays in global construction infrastructure projects. In the engineering phase, improper management of the design, unsustainable land acquisition, and insufficient use of EPC joint venture are the salient trigger of delays. In the procurement phase, the leading causes of unsuitable procurement, undervalued procurement cost, inefficient logistics in labor and materials, improper planning, unqualified site supervisors, inefficient technical standard management, and inefficient constant payment terms are likely to trigger delays in the construction phase HSR projects. Five critical groups of delay factors are identified by this study, which has an essential primary contribution to the body of knowledge and is helpful to EPC contractors working for HSR projects under BRI.

Keywords: delay; EPC delivery method; construction projects; high-speed railway; Belt and Road Initiative; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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