The Hindu Business Line : Ministry seeks fast-track clearance for 30 public-pvt road projects

New Delhi, July 1 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to fast track 30 public-private partnership (PPP) sub-projects so as to get all clearances by September-end and put them out for awarding, in its agenda submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The fast-track requirement is important as the approval of the PPP projects involves nods from the various Ministries. This includes four projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry has submitted that the Planning Commission will appraise the projects by July 31, and approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will be sought by September-end. This would ensure that the projects are ready for awarding at the earliest.

J&K projects

The four-laning of the National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar is proposed in the plan. This will be done on a build-operate-transfer (annuity) basis in six packages, with an estimated cost of Rs 9628.82 crore.

This includes rehabilitation, strengthening and four-laning of Srinagar to Banihal section (67.76 km), Ramban to Banihal (36 km) section, Udhampur to Ramban section (43 km) and Jammu to Udhampur section (65 km). The package for Jammu and Kashmir also includes four-laning of Quazigund to Banihal section (15.25 km) and also of Chenanni to Nashri section (12 km).

Border roads organisation

The plan also has National Highway works amounting to Rs 100 crore to be executed by the Border Roads Organisation. This includes widening to two-lane standards and strengthening of National Highway 1D (Zozila – Kargil – Leh road), and re-alignment and construction of two-lane road for about 3 km at NH-1B (Batote – Kishtwar road).

In addition, the Ministry would also clear two projects for State roads worth Rs 768 crore. Better and enhanced connectivity to North-East States is also envisaged in the Action Plan.

Time lines

Strict time lines for the various projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam and Mizoram have been submitted to the Prime Minister’s office in this regard. The important projects include time lines for awarding of the contracts for two-laning of trans-Arunachal Highway from Nechipu to Hoj (311 km) and Potin to Pangin (407 km) estimated at Rs 1172.50 crore and Rs 1566.25 crore, respectively, both on BOT Annuity basis is proposed by the end of August.

Another project relating to improvement of Stillwell road in Arunachal Pradesh (33 km) on cash contract basis with a project cost of Rs 91.25 crore is proposed to be awarded by July 31.

Improvement to two-laning of NH-154 in Assam to connect to remote areas with a project cost of Rs 71 crore is proposed to be awarded by July 31. The Ministry has also included plan for construction of new two-lane highway/improvement of existing national highways in Dibrugarh and Tinsukhia districts (70 km) of Assam.

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Ministry seeks fast-track clearance for 30 public-pvt road projects