(a) whether the Government has any programme for road development in the current plan period;
(b) if so, the estimated expenditure involved and the number of roads and express highways targeted;
(c) whether the mobilisation of funds for this programme has been considered;
(d) if so, the availability of funds from within the country and also from outside;
(e) whether any country has expressed interest in investing in the roadways programmes of India; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)
(a ) and (d) This Ministry is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of
National Highways (NHs). The Government has taken up several projects for improvement/
development of National Highways including construction of expressways under the various
schemes such as National Highways Development Project (NHDP), Special Accelerated Road
Development Programme in North East region (SARDP-NE), etc. The total length of NHs envisaged
for improvement under the various phases of NHDP is about 47,054 km. Apart from this,
development of 1,000 km length of Expressways has also been included under NHDP Phase VI.
About 5,104 km length of NHs and 4,656 km length of state roads are envisaged for improvement
under SARDP-NE. These projects are targeted for completion in phases by 2015-16. Apart from
this, this Ministry also provides funds to the States / Union Territories for development and
maintenance of State Roads, other than rural roads, as per the provisions of the Central Road
Fund (CRF) Act, 2000. The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) envisages budgetary support of
Rs 72,530 crore for Central Sector roads. This also includes funds for externally aided
projects (including counterpart funding) amounting to Rs. 4,454 crore. In addition, the sector
is expected to generate Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) amounting to Rs 34,829
crore and private sector investment of Rs 86,792 crore during this period.
(e) to (f) Recently a series of investment business conclaves through road shows were
held in major overseas investment centres. So far such road shows have been held in
Singapore, Zurich, London & New York. Discussions at Singapore with representatives from
Malaysia have resulted in negotiations for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
Government of Malaysia for cooperation in the road sector.