Centre's Bharat Mala project a non-starter

Jaipur: Central government's proposed Bharat Mala project connecting border areas remains a non-starter in the state. The officials claim there has not been much progress on this at the Centre, and is unlikely to kick off in this financial year.
"Total of 11 roads have been earmarked in Rajasthan that are to be developed under the project. These roads are identified by the Union ministry and proposal was sent to the state government.Further, instructions on this project are awaited," said the official from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Rajasthan is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the Central government's proposed Bharat Mala project. Out of 7,000 km, the state will have 1,491 km of roads running through the border areas in Rajasthan.
Officials attribute the lukewarm response from the stakeholders for the slow pace of the ambitious programme. "There are about nine states in the first phase while five states would be touched in phase II of the project. Coordination among all these states is a tedious task and requires time," added the official. Though roads that would be developed have been identified and details shared with the states concerned, the Central government is yet to launch the progamme officially.
"The ministry has taken up detailed review of National Highways (NHs) network, including those in the state of Rajasthan, with a view to improve connectivity in border areas," said P Radhakrishana, minister of state, road transport and highways. He added, "The project would be covering development of about 7,000 km of new NHs under Bharat Mala Pariyojna in consultation with state governments. However, it is yet to be formally launched."
As per the estimates, Rs 6,000 crore will be incurred for the development of border roads in Rajasthan. NHAI would develop these roads and aims to finish the project in five years. "Most of the roads are close to Pakistan border. Apart from strategic benefits, it will help in having good transport round the year," claimed Younus Khan, transport minister.
As per the plans, the project will start from Gujarat and Rajasthan, move to Punjab and then cover the entire string of Himalayan states - Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and then portions of borders of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar alongside Terai, and move to Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and right up to the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur and Mizoram.