Government building expressways, investing Rs 4.5 trn: Gadkari

05 Jul 2023 CW Team

During the event on 'Management Development Program on Infrastructure Financing' organized by IIM Kozhikode, the minister informed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had raised over Rs 70o billion through various financing methods. He added that this amount would be utilised for the construction of highway projects.

Gadkari explained that the government had conceptualized the Bharatmala Pariyojana, encompassing a 65,000 km highway development plan across the nation. The initial phase of this plan consisted of a road network spanning 34,800 km. As part of this initiative, the government aimed to construct 10,000 km of greenfield expressways, amounting to Rs 4.5 trillion.

The minister stated that the total length of India's National Highway (NH) network had risen from 91,000 km in 2014 to nearly 1.45 lakh km presently.

Furthermore, Gadkari emphasized that the government had made significant efforts to boost the economy through the national infrastructure pipeline and the PM Gati Shakti National master plan. These programs aimed to achieve comprehensive and integrated development in the country, resulting in cost and time savings. The newly established infrastructure projects would also enhance connectivity to remote regions.

Regarding infrastructure investment, the minister highlighted the importance of asset monetisation. He mentioned that NHAI held a 27% share under the national monetization pipeline. Additionally, the government was pursuing various models of monetization for national highways assets, including ToT (Toll-Operate-Transfer), InVIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust), and project-based financing, he stated.

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Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, announced that the government was undertaking the construction of several greenfield expressway projects totalling 10,000 km throughout the country. He stated that the cost of these projects would amount to Rs 4.5 trillion. Gadkari mentioned that these road developments were part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a road network initiative. During the event on 'Management Development Program on Infrastructure Financing' organized by IIM Kozhikode, the minister informed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had raised over Rs 70o billion through various financing methods. He added that this amount would be utilised for the construction of highway projects. Gadkari explained that the government had conceptualized the Bharatmala Pariyojana, encompassing a 65,000 km highway development plan across the nation. The initial phase of this plan consisted of a road network spanning 34,800 km. As part of this initiative, the government aimed to construct 10,000 km of greenfield expressways, amounting to Rs 4.5 trillion. The minister stated that the total length of India's National Highway (NH) network had risen from 91,000 km in 2014 to nearly 1.45 lakh km presently. Furthermore, Gadkari emphasized that the government had made significant efforts to boost the economy through the national infrastructure pipeline and the PM Gati Shakti National master plan. These programs aimed to achieve comprehensive and integrated development in the country, resulting in cost and time savings. The newly established infrastructure projects would also enhance connectivity to remote regions. Regarding infrastructure investment, the minister highlighted the importance of asset monetisation. He mentioned that NHAI held a 27% share under the national monetization pipeline. Additionally, the government was pursuing various models of monetization for national highways assets, including ToT (Toll-Operate-Transfer), InVIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust), and project-based financing, he stated. Also read: Kerala Water Authority to Expand Water Supply Network in MuvattupuzhaMinister unveils Rs 350 million twin sewage projects in Rajkot