Govt confident of achieving road projects target for FY’12

17 Feb 2012 Evaluate

The government is on track to achieve its target of awarding 7,300 km of road projects by the end of FY’12. Road Secretary A K Upadhayay while addressing delegates at an international summit organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), stated that projects for 6,000 km have already been awarded and hence he is hopeful that the target of 7,300 km would be met by March. Also if the trend continues for the next three years starting 2014, India would be able to achieve the target of building 20 km per day set in 2009. The minister also added that 150 kilometres of roads were being constructed per day in rural areas.

Road projects are being awarded under the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) National Highway Development Programme. So far, 211 road projects have been awarded in the country under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model, which have attracted an investment of Rs 1,62,000 crore or approximately $32 billion by the private sector, in the 11th plan period. As per the minister, in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) the proposed investment requirement would be about $146 billion and a 40% private sector involvement would mean a whopping $58 billion investment in roads and highways under PPP.

The government had adopted the PPP model in 2005 and since then it has been the preferred mode of execution for projects as it  leads to transparency in standard bidding documents, transparent procedures etc. Roads are the most essential part of infrastructure for providing industry and agriculture with the connectivity for markets for growth in production and trade, and more so for improving the quality of life for its citizens. Roads carry 65% of freight and 80% of passenger traffic in the country. The number of vehicles has been growing at an average of 10.16% per annum over the past five years.  

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