MoRTH targets Rs.25,000 cr for infra upgrade

Under the on-going Bharatmala road infra project, the Union road and transport ministry has decided to invest Rs.25,000 crore on upgrading cities’ infrastructure to decongest cities and improve transportation in these townships. In this connection, it has sought budgetary allocation in the upcoming budget. For this, the ministry has prepared a blueprint to decongest cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore through innovation in urban transportation. The finance ministry has allocated Rs.64,900 crore to the ministry of road transport and highways and now the ministry seeks funds for innovative solutions like personal rapid transport, electric buses, developing bus ports, and assisting state transport in improving bus fleets, the ministry wanted to decongest major cities. The states require financial aid for this from the central government, which cannot be met through the standard budgetary support the ministry receives every year. With the additional fund, the ministry also proposed to offer financial aid to states to procure electric bus and personal rapid transport initiatives. Centre also envisages development of bus ports in collaboration with states in major cities and plans to set aside Rs 2,000 crore as part of viability gap funding for the purpose.