Project progress electronically monitored

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has identified stretches for development of about 9,000 km length of Economic corridors under the Bharatmala Pariyojna programme, Minister Nitin Gadkari has told Rajya Sabha on 24 June 2019.

The projects also include about 6,000 km length of Inter-corridor and feeder roads, about 5,000 km length of National Corridors Efficiency improvements, about 2,000 km length of Border and International connectivity roads, about 2,000 km length of Coastal and port connectivity roads and about 800 km length of Expressways.

Fifteen road projects, with an aggregate length of about 631.7 km, have been awarded till March 2019 in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana under the Bharatmala Paryojana Phase-1.

Seven projects of Rs.4,916 crore have been awarded under the Border Roads and International Connectivity Roads component of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I as of March 2019. These projects would cost Rs.4,916 crores.

Five projects of about 163 kms and costing about Rs.2,469 crores have been awarded till March 2019 across the country under the Coastal Roads and Port Connectivity roads component of the programme.

Separately, 28 Ring Roads have been identified for development in the entire country under Bharatmala Priyojana Phase-I.

In addition to the provisions of Ring Roads, a total of 191 of choke points/congestion points have been identified for development through bypasses, flyovers, lane expansion Phase-I.

In case certain projects are proposed by the States including Ring Roads or Bypasses, which are not part of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, there is provision to take up such new projects if the State Government is ready to bear at least 50% cost of land acquisition under Grand Challenge Mechanism.

The Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase-I has approved outlay of Rs.535,000 crore for 24,800 km of National Highways as well as 10,000 km residual road works under NHDP.

Progress of all projects is monitored electronically for ensuring completion of projects as per schedule, said Gadkari. fiinews.com