A first: national highways to roll out on PPP model

While the Centre will bear the cost of the project,UP Public Works Department (UPPWD) will take 9 per cent of project cost as agency charge for ensuring the implementation of the scheme.

According to UPPWD authorities,two consultants — Voyants Solutions Private Limited and Sai Consultants — have been assigned the task to prepare detailed project reports (DPR) of the six routes by October.

“After the DPRs are completed,the process to award contracts to private developers will begin,” said A K Singh,Chief Engineer (National Highways),UPPWD.

The six stretches for which DPRs are being prepared are Kanpur-Kabrai (123 km),Aligarh-Kanpur (268 km),Gorakhpur-Varanasi (209 km),Rae Bareli-Allahabad (119 km),Agra-Aligarh (79 km) and Bareilly-Pilibhit-Sitarnagar (78 km).

Officials said these stretches were identified in view of the increasing traffic load in the last few years.

Singh said UPPWD will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre that will authorise UPPWD to implement the project.

The private developers involved in the project will widen the highways and later realise their investment by charging toll tax.

Besides these six stretches,UPPWD has sent a proposal to the government regarding the upgradation of eight new routes on a 1,232 km-stretch. These are Rae Bareli-Pratapgarh-Jaunpur (169 km),Ambedkar Nagar-Amethi-Rae Bareli-Banda (287 km),Unnao-Lalganj (68 km),Lumbini-Naugarh-Basti (292 km),Meerut-Hapur-Bulandshahar Road (66 km),Meerut-Paudi (139 km),Dhampur-Haridwar (100 km) and Allahabad-Jhansi (350 km).

The process for appointment of consultants will begin soon after the projects get approved by Road Transport and Highways Ministry.