A generous provision of over Rs 85,000 crore for the highways sector in the recent budget has enabled the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to push start road projects under the Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode instead of waiting for private partners under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
“The Road Transport Ministry was keen to push more projects under public-funded projects, also known as EPC, as it would help expedite the work instead of waiting for private firms to bid under PPP model.
As not many private players are keen to participate in bids under PPP due to funds crunch, public-funded projects would be more advantageous till the private sector steps in,” a Ministry official told Deccan Herald.
The Narendra Modi-led NDA government is aiming at building 30 km of highways a day over the next two years against the present 8 km a day.
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