The Hindu Business Line : Indian Roads Congress to develop standards for 4-lane highways

The Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T.R. Baalu, and the Secretary, Mr L.K. Joshi, at an Indian Roads Congress seminar in the Capital on Friday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Sept. 23

EXPERTS at the Indian Roads Congress have said they would work towards developing uniform standards for four-lane roads and express highways in the country.

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T.R. Baalu, stressed on the need to evolve efficient and innovative methods for finance, operation and maintenance of high-speed road corridors.

Mr Baalu was speaking at a seminar on `High Speed Road Corridors' organised by the Indian Road Congress. Pointing out that huge funds are required for the road sector as the national highway projects are highly capital intensive and the cess accruals from petrol and diesel are not enough to meet the requirement, Mr Baalu said there was a need to find "innovative methods for financing the programmes."

Later, Mr Baalu told reporters that the model concession agreement for the road sector is in the final stages and is expected to be out within a few days.

"The Indian Roads Congress, with the highway professionals, international experience and research findings, prepares the design standards for various categories of road that are adopted all over the country. Due to non-availability of such standards for four-lanes and express highways, the development of four-lane roads has not been of uniform standards." Considering the need for high-speed corridors, the Indian Roads Congress intends to develop standards for their planning and design, said Mr V.B. Borge, President, Indian Roads Congress.

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Indian Roads Congress to develop standards for 4-lane highways