Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the construction of 65,000 km of national highways will be completed across India at a cost of over Rs 5.35 lakh crore by the year 2022. He noted that the Bharatmala Pariyojana comprises of about 65000 km of Highways / Roads, out of which 24,800 km highways fall along economic corridors, inter corridors, feeder routes and border roads.
The minister has stated that all these highways, along with 10,000 km residual National Highway Development Projects stretches have been envisaged for construction under Phase-I of the Pariyojana over a period of five years from 2017-18 to 2021-22 for which Rs 5,35,000 crore have been earmarked. He also said that the mode of implementation for construction of road stretches under this scheme has been planned in such a manner so as to ensure expeditious implementation.
Gadkari further said that in order to achieve completion within the time-frame, the progress of projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana is monitored regularly to ensure timely completion of Detailed Project Report or feasibility study and civil works for the projects. He also informed that already, 137 road projects having an aggregate length of about 6,530 kms have been awarded and are in various stages of implementation.