The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved the phase VII of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), with an estimated investment of Rs 16,680 crore.
The project, which entails construction of ring roads, bypasses (including improvement of national highways), grade separated intersections, flyovers, elevated roads, tunnels, road overbridges, underpasses and service roads would see a government funding to Rs 6,302 crore. The remaining Rs 10,378 crore will be raised from the private sector.
Of the total investment, Rs 10,500 crore will be spent on construction of 700 km of ring roads and highways only. The works of the standalone ring roads and bypasses are likely to be awarded by March 2011 and expected to be completed by December 2014, the government said in a statement.
The ministry of shipping, road transport and highways has proposed to the Cabinet that the scope of NHDP-VII be expanded in a big way to include as many big cities as possible.
NHDP Phase I was approved by CCEA in December 2000 at an estimated cost of Rs.30,000 crore comprises mostly of golden quadrilateral (5,846 km) and NS-EW Corridor (981km), port connectivity (356 km) and others (315 km).
NHDP Phase II was approved by CCEA in December 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs 34,339 crore (2002 prices) comprises mostly NS-EW Corridor (6,161 km) and other National highways of 486 km length, the total length being 6,647 km. The total length of Phase II is 6,647 km.
The government approved on 5.3.2005 upgradation and 4 laning of 4,035 km of National highways on BOT basis at an estimated cost of Rs 22,207 crore (2004 prices). The government approved in April 2007 upgradation and 4 laning at 8,074 km at an estimated cost of Rs 54,339 crore.
NHDP Phase V was approved by the CCEA has approved in October 2006 , with a plans to six lane of 6,500 km of existing 4 lane highways. CCEA approved NHDP Phase VI on November 2006 for 1000 km of expressways at an estimated cost of Rs 1,66,80 crore.