The government today expressed hope that it would achieve the target of awarding 7,300 km of road projects by the end of the current financial year.
"We have achieved close to 6,000 km and are hopeful of achieving the target by March, 2012," Road Secretary AK Upadhayay said at a seminar organised by Assocham.
During the current fiscal, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had set a goal of awarding 7,300 km of road projects under the National Highway Development Programme.
Meanwhile, over 200 such road projects which have been awarded under the PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) model involving an investment of Rs 1,62,000 crore.
"So far, 211 road projects have been awarded in the country under the PPP model, which have attracted an investment of Rs 1,62,000 crore or approximately USD 32 billion by the private sector ... In the 11th plan period, Upadhayay said.
The government adopted the PPP model for the award of highway projects in 2005.
"From 2005 onwards, PPP is the preferred mode of execution of such projects," he said adding that this practice has lead to transparency in standard bidding documents, transparent procedures etc.
He added that the government can also achieve another aim of building 20 km of roads per day provided it continues to award over 7,000 km highway projects annually.
"If we award 7,000 km of projects every year for the next three years starting 2014, we would be able to achieve the target of building 20 km per day," Upadhayay added.
The ministry in 2009 had set a target of building 20 km of road per day, which translates into 7,300 km per year.
