PPP panel clears Rs 50 bn road projects

The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) approved 10 road projects with a total cost of Rs 5,000 crore. The proposals cleared by the ministry include four-laning of the Vijayawada-Machlipatnam section of National Highway 9 in Andhra Pradesh on a build-operate-and-transfer (toll) basis under the phase III of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The project cost is Rs 606 crore. Two-laning of the stretch between Bikaner and Suratgarh on NH 11 in Rajasthan has also been approved. A viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs 100 crore has been sought for the project, which will cost about Rs 500 crore.