PIB pushes multi-faced Bharatmala project

The project with the largest-ever outlay for a government road scheme, Bharatmala project, moves ahead with the Public Investment Board (PIB) and has given green signal to the Road ministry‘s ambitious Rs.10 trillion road project. The project includes development of around 51,000 km of road length comprising economic corridors, coastal roads and expressways and will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, 29,000 km will be developed at a cost of Rs.5.5 trillion. The project was referred to the PIB in May after the Prime Minister‘s office felt the project should be vetted by the board before being put up to the cabinet, said sources that cabinet note will be prepared replacing National Highways Development Project (NHDP) launched in 1998. The Road ministry has already prepared a road map for the project clearing that Bharatmala will be implemented using engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) model and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will be given full autonomy irrespective of project cost.