NH construction up by 10%, award for new works falls by over 50%

NEW DELHI: The construction and expansion of National Highways till November end, the first nine months of the current financial year, is around 10% more than the corresponding period of 2011-23. However, the award of new projects for construction fell by almost 52% during this year.

As per the road transport ministry data, till end of November, different agencies under the road transport and highways ministry have constructed or widened 5,248 km of NHs as compared to 4,766 km during the same period last year. The government has set the target to build and widen around 12,000 km, which now seems a tough task, considering the agencies concerned have only four months left in this financial year.

The progress in the case of bid out of new projects has been very slow compared to last year. While during April-November period of 2022-23, the agencies had bid out works for 5,382 km, this year it’s barely 2,815 km.

Last month the ministry had flagged how the target for bidding out of projects would be hit if the government does not take a decision on the proposal for approval of the revised Bharatmata Phase-1 or alternate programme expeditiously. Shortfall in award this year will reflect in the progress of construction in the FY 2024-25, it had said.

The finance ministry has asked the road ministry not to bid out new projects under Bharatmala without getting fresh cabinet approval. This has impacted the fate of developing 8,000 km-odd NH stretches under the government’s flagship programme.

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