MoRTH sets 15,000-km road-building targets for fiscal

Undeterred by Covid-19 headwinds, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set an ambitious target of constructing 15,000 km highways in FY21, up to 46% over it built in the previous year. The bid-out goal at 20,000 km is equally high as it had managed to award 8,912 km in FY20. With directions from the top, the MoRTH seems determined to maintain the pace of highway development and wants its officers to not take their foot off the pedal. But the task ahead is uphill as many workers have left the construction sites to head home. In an internal circular, the ministry has advised central engineering service (CES) officers against laxity on their part and directed them to complete their tasks within the given timelines. Agency and officer wise target break-up down the line up to PIU (project implementation unit) level may be issued by the Ministry/NHAI/NHIDCL very shortly. The targets set, works awarded and the targets achieved are to be duly recorded in the APAR (Annual Performance Assessment Report). While bidding out target is being seen as doable, given that many projects from the previous fiscal could now be offered, actual construction would be difficult in the face of massive disruptions caused by the coronavirus-induced lockdown. As per MoRTH stats, the total highway construction in April 2020 fell to 210 km, almost one-fourth of 792 km logged in the same period last year and constructed 10,237 km of national highways during 2019-20.