Maharashtra to launch prepaid toll card

The government was also working towards total computerisation of the octroi department to reduce the waiting period for commercial vehicles. Currently, the waiting period for commercial vehicles at octroi posts extends from four hours to two days, in some cases.

Gadkari justified the private sector participation in the road sector saying it was essential as the development of this front will not be possible on through budgetary support or planned expenditure.

Onthe government’s agenda to connect all villages by roads, he said Sangli from sugarcane rich western Maharashtra — will be connected by February 10 and all other villages by year 2000. The public works department had launched the programme to construct all-weather roads and connect all villages by roads with the financial assistance from National Bank of Agricultural and Rural Development (Nabard).

Gadkari strongly criticised the financial institutions for their limited contribution to infrastructural development. He called for an attitudinal change in the mindset of the project appraisers.

Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) managing director DJ Balaji Rao mooted the idea of creation of a special funds for road developed to be managed independently. He added that such independent fundsused with `shadow tolling’could bring in significant private participation in the sector with the attendent efficiency benefits.

According to him, such funds could enable the government and the privateprojects raise long-term debt from newer sources like insurance companies, pension funds and retail investors.

PG Patankar of Tata Consultancy Services advocated that user charges and dedicated levies should be used in mobilising resources for the road sector for carrying out expansion and improvement works. He said that while private enterprises will be encouraged in funding the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, the role of budgetary support will remain predominant in view of the crucial role that infrastructure like roads play in catalysing development.

IMC president YP Trivedi said that though India has the third largest road network in the world, efficient and speedy transportation is not facilitated due to the large proportion of unsurfaced roads and the over dependence on national highways.

He added that a mismatch between the growth of traffic carried by roads and growth of road network over the years also contributed to slow and inefficient transportation.