NHAI making all out efforts to speed up highway construction

New Delhi, Dec 12 :  The government on Tuesday said it was making all out efforts to speed up awarding of projects and construction of highways, adding it had already invited bids for projects of 4,900 km length till November.

It added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was likely to invite bids for another 3,500 km by December end, taking the total up to 8,400 km. 

"Further projects for bidding during January-March next year will be identified around the fourth week of December," the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a statement.

It said that projects costing Rs 22,100 crore and covering 1,170 km have already been awarded so far and bids for many other projects are under evaluation.

"In FY 2017-18, NHAI has completed 1,566 km length of the projects under implementation till November (5,060 km). The last five-year average constructed by NHAI is 2,175 km with 2,628 km constructed in FY 2016-17.

"This year NHAI is targeting to construct 3,500 km," it said.

It added that work on 12 new projects covering 597 km has commenced while work on another 38 projects covering 1,969 km will start soon. 

"NHAI is making all out efforts to achieve its target of awarding 10,000 km during 2017-18, as set by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. The authority is also gearing up to meet its target of completing Phase I of the recently approved 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' within the next five years," the statement said.