Govt finds road construction easier for new expressways

As cost of land acquisition and rehabilitation around existing national highways rises, the Union government is gradually shifting focus from expansion of highways to execution of green-field expressways. Experts believe the turnaround time for a new expressway is lesser than that of expansion of the existing highway, therefore, executing new projects is a better proposition.

“Cost of land acquisition around existing highways has gone up as well as shifting wayside amenities on the existing stretches is costlier keeping in mind the net present value, while a new alignment can come up at a lesser cost,” a senior Road Ministry official