The roads and highways seem to be gearing up to carry India to the next level and help the country move ahead to achieve speedy economic growth. After a somewhat sluggish start in 2006, the sector picked up some speed in 2007 with the NHAI awarding as many as 18 contracts to cover 928 km at an estimated cost of Rs 6816 crore under NHDP Phase III, IV (upgradation of 20,000 km of roads in remote areas) and NHDP Phase VI (creation 1,000 km of highways).
During the year, 128 km of road construction was completed under the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ). Out of total length of 5,846 km to be covered under the GQ, four laning of 5,629 km has been completed which includes the progress done in 2007. Work is underway on the remaining 211 km of roads.
To tackle the burgeoning traffic around major cities, the government gave its approval for construction of ring roads and bypasses around these cities. It also cleared the proposal to modify the Special Accelerated Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) during the year.
Under the North-South & East-West Corridors, of the total length of 7,300 km for four laning on the stretches connecting Porbandar to Silchar and Srinagar to Kanyakumari, work has been completed in 1,559 km length. The remaining 4,762 km length is under implementation. During the calendar year 707 km length has been completed. The programme is already running behind schedule by exactly a year and the government has now shifted its deadline to December 2008.
In the new-year the ministry is expected to start work on six-laning of around 1,000 km of expressways under the sixth phase of the NHDP. The year 2008 would also see some policy initiatives from the road transport ministry, which is likely to unveil a new transport policy and road safety policy for the country.
The other major areas of road building were in the port connectivity projects and the other national highway programs. In the case of port connectivity, out of 380 km, 163 km has been completed and another 211 km is under implementation. The government is yet to award the remaining 14 km stretch. During the calendar year 28 km length has been completed in the port connectivity projects. The government has approved up-gradation of 780 Km of national highways under NHDP Phase-IIIA in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 6,782 crore in April 2007. With this approval, total length approved under Phase-IIIA stands at 4,815 km at an estimated cost of Rs 33,069 crore.
On the administrative side the ministry for road transport and highways, approved the amendments in the Motor Vehicle Act. The Union Cabinet in its meeting held in March 2007, approved the proposal of the road transport ministry to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Amending the legislation would result in enhancing penalties for various traffic offences, delegating more powers to the states, and making the transport authorities in the states more responsible. This would also revise the speed limits on roads and highways, which at present are state subjects and therefore varies from place to place. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on May 15, 2007 and it has been referred to the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture for examination and appropriate recommendations.