According to union minister for surface transport M Thambi Durai, a separate entity called the national express roadway authority (NERA) is proposed to be set up for overseeing the project.

"The authority will be different from the existing National Highway Authority of India," he clarified, adding that the ministry will shortly prepare a note to seek Cabinet's approval.

Durai was speaking at the occasion of handing over of survey vessel to the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT). The vessel, Sanshodhinee, was added to the port's fleet here on Friday.

The existing highways are unable to cope with increase in container traffic, Durai said, adding that the expressways will expedite the movement of container traffic and cargo meant for exports and imports.

"Due to heavy traffic at the highways not only the cargo movement slows down but alsoresults in loss of human life," he said. He, however, did not give any timeframe for the completion of the project.

According to Durai, the expressways project involves connecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad to Kandla, Kandla to Delhi, Delhi to Calcutta, Calcutta to Paradip and Vishakhapatnam, Vishakhapatnam to Chennai and Chennai to Tuticorin.

Another link would connect Tuticorin to Mangalore and Kochi while Chennai would be connected to Bangalore and Mumbai by the proposed expressways.As regards the new shipping policy, Durai said certain provisions are in the process of being reframed. These include admiralty proviso, removal of restrictions on seafarers and uplift of labour.

The survey vessel, costing around Rs 4.5 crore, will enhance the ability of MbPT to check dredge in port waters and facilitate longer life for the harbour.

The launch-shaped vessel, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment for hydrographic survey, has been received as a grant from the government of Netherlands under theupgrading hydrographic survey and dredge control capabilities (USDP) project.

Under the project, MbPT personnel will also receive training from the Netherlands for improving survey skills. Two other ports (Vizag and Kandla) would also receive similar survey vessels from the Netherlands.

The survey vessel has been provided with differential global positioning system (DGPS) based on satellite transmission, echosounder and electronic charting which would ensure precise and quick seabed sounding and mapping.The data thus generated would be used for dredging activities and facilitate safer navigation in the harbour.

Speaking on the occasion, transport secretary R Vasudevan urged the Netherlands government to extend the grant to Calcutta port also which alone spends around Rs 140 crore on maintenance and dredging operations.

According to him, collaboration of Dutch shipyards with Indian shipyards can also be planned for transfer of technology in future.