4 firms in Kanpur road project

Four firms have been shortlisted to improve the roads of Kanpur, each to develop a stretch of 60 km.

The four consultants are Dalal-MottMcDonald, Consultancy Engineering Services of Bangalore, Development Consultant India Ltd, and SECON.

Detailed project reports are being prepared.

The Kanpur Development Authority is supervising the project. Vice-Chairman Anil Kumar told Business Standard the roads should measure up to international standards, and the cables, electric wires, etc. would be underground. Each road would have the necessary road indicators and the extended areas have to be developed.

But on a rough reckoning, this plan will require Rs 600"�700 crore.

Kumar said once the project was ready, funds would be sought. The UP State Industrial Development Corporation would give Rs 1.25 crore for the preparation of the project reports, out of its infrastructure development funds, he added.

There are various models available for implementation. These are private-public partnership, or on the basis of build-own-lease-transfer. Some roads could be toll-roads, like the one on the Ganga Barrage, which connects Kanpur west with Lucknow, or the Mandana-Bhaunti bypass, which links GT Road with Kalpi Road.

The plans of the Kanpur Development Authority could be dovetailed with those of the state government, or funds may come from the central government.

Kumar said there was Rs 100 crore with the Authority, which could be invested.

By October, the reports would be in and work would start, Kumar said.