Plan panel identifies six stretches for expressway

Under NHDP VI, the government plans to construct 1,000 km of access controlled four/six lane expressways and would be distinct from the already existing highways. Official sources said that NHAI would soon appoint a consultant to study the potential traffic to narrow down the stretches that would benefit from these expressways.

For instance, though the Delhi-Agra has been identified as a potential stretch under NHDP VI, the Ministry of surface transport feels that there’s no need for such an expressway on this stretch given the traffic potential. Issues such as these would be ironed out over the next few days.

Although the government has announced seven projects under NHDP, the UPA government plans to showcase NHDP VI and is pushing for this project even ahead of other NHDP projects.

As highways under NHDP VI are going to be distinct from the already existing highways (for instance as those falling under the golden quadrilateral), NHAI would have to acquire fresh land and secure fresh clearances from state governments to execute these projects. According to the Planning Commission estimate, the amount allocated for land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, utility relocation etc has been estimated to be around Rs 1,500 crore. The estimate for actual cost of the works has been estimated at Rs 13,500 crore. Together, the allocation made for NHDP VI would be around Rs 15,000 crore.

Given the nature of these expressways, which would attract traffic away from the already existing highways, the Planning Commission estimates that the central government may have to provide around Rs 5,400 crore through the gap funding route to make projects viable.

The balance Rs 8,100 crore would come from the private concessionaires who would be awarded these projects under the build, own and transfer route.

Roads under focus

• Delhi-Chandigarh
• Delhi-Jaipur
• Delhi-Meerut
• Bangalore-Chennai
• Delhi-Agra
• Kolkata-Dhanbad