PM asks transport ministry to expedite allocation of road projects

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday directed the ministry of road transport and highways to expedite the allocation of major projects for this fiscal.

"The ministry of Road Transport and Highways has assured that 15 major projects covering 1,547 km of roads and highways will be awarded within this financial year," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in statement. According to the PMO, another 11 projects for 1,731 km of roads will be considered by the public private partnership (PPP) approval committee next week.

"This will ensure that the target for the current financial year of 7,999 km is met on time."   The Cabinet committee on infrastructure will also consider a proposal by the Highways ministry on the eastern peripheral expressway.

The expressway is expected to decongesting the national capital region (NCR) on the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana side along with the completion of the western peripheral expressway which is nearing completion.

Earlier Union Road Transport and Highway Minister C P Joshi told reporters that an inter-ministerial panel will soon finalise the EPC model  for building roads.