The government is considering monetisation of completed public-funded national highway projects. The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan has said that a proposal for monetisation of completed public funded national highway projects through Toll-Operate Transfer mode based on the expected collection of user fee receivables, through private sector efficiency and expertise is under active consideration.
The minister further said that proceeds from such monetisation of completed national highway projects shall be utilised for construction, operation and maintenance of national highways, and pointed that as per budgetary approval for the current year, Internal Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) amounting to Rs 59,279 crore has been allotted to NHAI.
He also said that various steps have been taken by the Government/ NHAI to remove the hurdles affecting the construction of NH projects including streamlining of land acquisition and regulatory clearances, close coordination with other ministries, revamped Disputes Resolution Mechanism etc. NHAI has also decided not to award projects till all major pre-construction approvals are in-place for the project in order to avoid post bid delays and litigations.