Govt to start new highway project 'Bharatmala'

The Centre would soon embark on a highly ambitious road project to create 51,000 kilometre of highways with an investment of Rs 5 lakh crore.

Dubbed ‘Bharatmala’, the project has already been approved by the Public Investment Board and it would soon come up before the Union Cabinet for clearance, said an official from the Road Transport and Highways Ministry.

The 51000 kilometre of roads would connect major economic corridors, coastal roads and expressways. The project will be implemented in phases. Besides upgrading existing highways, the project would also build 24,000 kilometres of new roads.

The official said the ministry would fast-track the process by authorizing National Highways Authority of India to award the projects, which otherwise would require clearance of the Cabinet Committee on

Economic Affairs as they cost more than Rs 1000 crore.