He said NCR concept suffered delays because of constraints in inter-state relations and funds crunch. The new concept of expressways recognised no state jurisdictions as in the case of highways earmarked by states for themselves, will render improved services to the users.

The government had engaged Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)- an official agency of Japanese government responsible for implementation of cooperation programmes in 1998 to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of expressways in NCR. JICA, he said, had submitted its draft final report to the government.

The final report is expected to be submitted by the end of next month.According to the study, the first expressway spanning 80.75 km from Kundli in Haryana and Ghaziabad-Meerut in the region would cost Rs 1,135 crore and the project "is highly feasible from economic viewpoints" and should be implemented immediately.

According to the break-up of expenditure given in the study, the actual construction would cost Rs 732 crore, land acquisition and compensation Rs 165 crore, engineering cost Rs 89.7 crore, administration cost Rs 44.9 crore, and contingency Rs 103 crore.

On mobilisation of resources, it says a recourse financing approach would strengthen the confidence of private investors and considerably reduce the private sector risk. If recourse financing is not possible, the government should consider positively guaranteeing returns for financing institutions and private equity investors.

Instead of going in for long-term funds from the local financial market at an expensive 16 per cent interest, the government should consider obtaining Overseas Development Agency (ODA) funds from international funding institutions, the report suggests.

Taking into account the savings in travel costs and the direct and enormous indirect benefits towards regional development, the toll expressway project, which would facilitate a speed of 120 km with no signal lights and limited access and exit points, should be implemented at the earliest opportunity, it says.

The project would also lead to construction of similar motorways in other parts of the country, according JICA expert Yasuyuki Matsui, attached to the ministry of surface transport, who outlined the international experience in expressway development, including in Pakistan, China and Thailand, besides Japan, the United States, Germany and France. Japanese ambassador Hiroshi Hirabayashi, who was also present on the occasion said his country was committed to helping infrastructural development in and around Delhi where his country had undertaken six projects, including the Indo-Japanese friendship bridge across the Yamuna river.

Uttar Pradesh minister for urban planning and development Lalji Tandon said the state government fully supported the expressway projects.