In order to achieve the target of 20 km per day set by road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has formulated a work plan for awarding projects totalling a length of 12,000 km in the current fiscal and 11,000 km in the next year, an official release from the authority stated.

Further, to ensure closer monitoring of projects, targets have been fixed for each activity required for awarding contracts. This includes setting timelines for the completion of feasibility studies, approval of PPPAC, land acquisition, finalisation of the request for qualification (RFQ)/request for proposal (RFP) and restructuring and decentralisation of the NHAI. The PSU is also in the process of expediting the progress of 6,500 km of the ongoing projects and plans to complete 2,500 km in this year and 4,000 km in the next year, the release said.

Earlier in the day, the minister of state for road transport and highways RPN Singh told the Parliament that about 150 national and 32 state highway projects were running behind schedule. Each of these projects cost more than Rs 5 crore. The main reasons for the delay are problems in land acquisition, utility shifting, obtaining environment clearance, poor performance of contractors and budgetary constraints.

Singh said the steps taken for the speedy implementation of the projects included appointment of a nodal officer in each state for coordinating land acquisition, simplification of process of issue of notification and appointment of an officer of railways in the NHAI to coordinate with the railways.

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