NHAI must build 50 km of highways a day to meet target

23 Nov 2022 CW Team

The National Highways Authority of India faces the uphill task of building over 50 km of highways per day in five months to complete the targeted 12,000 km in FY23 after the pace of construction slackened in the first seven months of the year, so that only a third of the goal has been reached.

Between April and October, NHAI could manage just 4,060 km of national highways as against 4,450 km built in the same period of pandemic-hit FY22, a drop of around 8.8%.

As per the latest data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, though construction has faltered this year, award of projects has picked up pace. However, numbers have remained flat at 5,007 km.

In April-October of FY22, NHAI could award just about 4,913 km of highways.

While the government has not provided any reason for the weak performance this year, an official in the ministry said disruptions from the omicron wave of Covid and a prolonged monsoon prevented the NHAI from completing the targeted 12,000 km last year, and the trend seems to be continuing this year.

Nevertheless, the ministry still hopes to reach 12,000 km. Agencies have already been asked to push up construction and that the government is flush with funds to get roads completed at accelerated pace.

“First-half road constructions are generally slow but we hope that this activity will pick up pace now, as has been the case earlier as well, and goalposts would be reached,” said an official.

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