The government has decided to fast-track the clearance of roads and highways projects in the remaining months of the current financial year.
After a directive from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the ministry of road transport and highways has decided to award 15 major projects, totalling 1,547 kilometres of roads, this financial year. Another 11 road projects (1,731 km) would be considered by the public-private partnership approval committee next week. “This will ensure the target for the current financial year of 7,999 km is met on time,” said a release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
In a meeting attended by the member-secretary in the Planning Commission, the secretary in the department of economic affairs, the secretary in the ministry of road transport & highways, and principal secretary to the prime minister, Pulok Chatterjee, it was decided cabinet approvals for the exercise would be sought next week.
The cabinet committee on infrastructure would also consider the ministry’s proposal on the eastern peripheral expressway to clear the project in its meeting next week.