"The proposal submitted by the Ministry has been forwarded to the World Bank by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance for a loan assistance of US $ 2.96 billion in phase manner," he said.

Recently, the Ministry has identified about 3,770 km length of NHs State-wise and NH-wise for proposed improvement under World Bank Loan assistance, and about 1,963 km length of NHs proposed for improvement under budgetary allocations as approach of corridor development (i.e. long continuous stretch) is to be adopted, proposed development of these corridors of NHs include strengthening (in adjoining reaches) in addition to widening to 2 lane/ 2 lane with paved shoulder standards. The planning of the improvement of the balance short stretches of NHs (having less than 2-lanes) to 2-lane standards may be taken up under annual plan of works.

At present, about 19,064 km length of National Highways (NHs) is below 2-lane NH standards. Of this, about 6,304 km lengths of NHs are below 2-lane NH standards and not included for up gradation under any of the approved programmes.

On December 1st this month, the National Highway Authority of India (INHAI) has made initial indication of 10 mega projects in various states for implementation in a phased manner.

The said mega projects include six laning of Kishangarh - Udaipur - Ahmedabad Section of NH-79A, NH-79, NH-76 & NH-8 (557 km) in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat; six laning of Ichapuram - Srikakulam -Vishakhapatnam - Ankapalli- Rajahmundry section of NH-5(436 km) in Andhra Pradesh; Four laning of Gujarat-Maharashtra border - Dhule - Jalgaon - Akola - Amravati section of NH-6 (485 km); Four laning of Gwalior - Shivpur - Biaora - Dewas section of NH-3(450 km) in Madhya Pradesh; 2-laning with paved shoulder of Amristsar-Ganganagar- Bikaner-Nagaur-Jodhpur-Pali section of NH-15, 89 & 65(700km) in the states of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Similarly, the other stretches identified for the mega projects are - two-laning with paved shoulder of Kolhapur - Sangli - Sholapur - Latur - Nanded - Wardha - Nagpur section of NH-7 & SH(475km) in the state of Maharashtra; Four laning of Panvel - Goa / Maharashtra Border section of NH-17(475 km); Four laning of Ahmedabad - Bamanbore - Samakhiali and Bamanbore - Rajkot - Gondal section of NH-8A and B (425 km) ;Six / Four / 2 Lane with Paved Shoulders of Bhavnagar - Pipavav - Porbandar - Dwarka section of NH-8E(445 km) in Gujarat, and Six laning of Aurangabad - Barwa adda - Panagarh - Dhankuni section of NH-2 (475 Km) in the states of Bihar and West Bengal.

"The formulation of the mega Projects is in initial stages. The process of invitation of bids for these mega projects is linked to preparation of the feasibility reports and their appraisal for implementation on pubic private partnership (PPP) basis after following the laid down procedures,", said R.P.N. Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways in the Lok Sabha.

Along with the development of National Highways, the government is also developing wayside amenities along the National Highways, in which, the Government will provide land on lease to the private entrepreneurs on competitive basis. As per the Government policy, the entrepreneur offering to pay the highest amount of lease rent to the Government per annum is given land for the purpose of developing and operating these amenities for certain period varying from 15 to 30 years.

At present, 8 sites - two each in Rajasthan, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and one each in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - has already been awarded. Three sites are in the process of being awarded (one each in UP, Maharashtra and Punjab), and bids are being re-invited for 26 sites.

Last month, in an interview to a business paper, Kamal Nath has said that the government is on target to achieve the 46,000 km of road network set for 11th plan. Meanwhile, When EPC World spoke to Gajendra Haldea, Principal Advisor, (Infrastructure) Planning Commission of India, he says, "The set target (46,000 km) for 11th plan is not possible which is due to recent global turmoil and lack of interest in road projects by private players."

"We are also encouraging state government to go for road projects through public private partnership model", he said.

According to Haldea, only 20% work on road projects has been completed so far.

Echoing Haldea's view, S. S Chakraborty, Chairman, Consulting Engineering Services (I) Pvt. Ltd said, "The question is not about whether the targets are achievable or not but how we are going to build it, and the said target is not an easy task."

By Rahul Kamat.