(a) whether the Government have recently approved highway projects worth Rs. 7 lakh crore;
(b) if so, the details thereof, project-wise separately;
(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to realize the much required fund for this mega plan and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the extent to which job opportunities will increase following implementation of the highway projects?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)
(a) to (b) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of an umbrella programme for the National Highways Road Sector “Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I”, to be implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and its implementing agencies over a period of 5 years (2017-2022) at an estimated outlay of Rs 5,35,000 crore for upgradation of 34,800 km of highways/roads. Details of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I is as below:
S. No. Category Bharatmala Pariyojana phase-I
1 Economic Corridors 9,000 km
2 Inter Corridors & Feeder Routes 6,000 km
3 National Corridors efficiency improvements 5,000 km
4 Border and International connectivity roads 2,000 km
5 Coastal & port connectivity roads 2,000 km
6 Expressways 800 km
7 Total 24,800 km
8 Balance Road works under NHDP 10,000 km
(c) Funding for the Bharatmala Pariyojana will be through Central Road Fund (CRF), earmarked for NH, Gross Budgetary System (GBS), monetization of NHs through Toll Operate Transfer (TOT), Permanent Bridges Fee Fund (PBFF), Market borrowing and Private Investment.
(d) Under Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana it is expected to generate roughly 14.2 crore man-days of employment during the construction phase and roughly 22 Million permanent jobs driven by increased level of economic activities enabled by development of the Economic Corridor network.
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