After a poor show in the last fiscal, the ministry of roads, transport and highways on Tuesday said that it will award 7,300 km of national highways for the current financial year.
The ministry is now looking beyond the target of award of 3,000 kms on national highways in the first six months as announced by the finance minister in his Budget speech. An initial target of 3,800 kms has been set for for the ministry/National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which has to be met in the first six months.
?For FY 2013-14, the internal target has been fixed at 9,000 km of national highways so as to ensure award of at least 7,300 km during the year,? roads minister CP Joshi said in a statement.
The minister has decided upon these targets after having a review meeting with the officials of ministry of road transport and highways along with NHAI.
It is also understood that the 50% of the projects would be taken up on engineering procurement construction (EPC) mode. This has been decided given the subdued market sentiments and the tepid response to bids in respect of PPP projects.
?The strategy aims at striking a balance between the projects on PPP mode and thus supported through the budget. The plan envisages more than 50% of the projects to be taken up on EPC mode. This approach aims at rejuvenating the road construction industry,? the statement added.