MoRTH to seek cabinet nod for townships, smart cities alongside highways

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry (MoRTH) will seek the Cabinet's approval for allowing construction of smart cities, townships, logistic parks and industrial clusters along the national highways, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday.

Delhi-Meerut Expressway is going to be inaugurated very soon. (Image for representational purpose) (PTI)
Delhi-Meerut Expressway is going to be inaugurated very soon. (Image for representational purpose)

Addressing a virtual event, Gadkari said his aim is to construct world-class highway networks and the road transport and highways ministry has chalked out a plan for monetising existing highways projects for infra capital generation.

"And now we havepreparedaCabinet note for approval ....for making roadsidetownships, smart cities, logistic parks, industrial clusters," he said.

"We are making 400 roadside amenities," Gadkari added.

He said the road transport and highways ministry is now submitting a scheme for the second phase of Bharatmala Pariyojana that is more than 65,000 km to 70,000 km, and resolution of claims worth 41,500 crore.

Also check these Vehicles

Find more Cars
Harley-davidson Harley Davidson Road Glide Special (HT Auto photo)
₹ 34.99 Lakhs* **Ex-showroom price
Add to compare
Check latest offers
Bmw R 18 Transcontinental (HT Auto photo)
₹ 31.50 Lakhs* **Ex-showroom price
Add to compare
Check latest offers
Indian Springfield Dark Horse (HT Auto photo)
₹ 28.57 - 31 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price
Add to compare
Check latest offers
Bmw K 1600 Gtl (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 28.75 Lakhs *Expected Price
View Details
Indian Springfield (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 30.87 - 33.50 Lakhs* *Expected Price
View Details
Harley-davidson Harley Davidson Street Glide Special (HT Auto photo)
₹ 31.99 Lakhs* **Ex-showroom price
Add to compare
Check latest offers

"We are making parking plazas, logistic parks...we are now planning to make tunnels worth 2.5 lakh crore," Gadkari said.

Replying to a question on cost escalation of road projects, the minister said, "What you are telling me is correct, but I don't know what are the contractual terms. We will refer to the contractual terms and then we will consider all these issues."

Admitting that cost escalation of road projects is a serious issue, he asked contractors to submit their proposals to the ministry.

"I am positive but we are also bound with the contract, we will try to find a way out for that," Gadkari said.

On the recent trend of highway contractors quoting less than the bid price in many projects, the minister said he knows that many big contractors are very much annoyed because of some relaxations of bidding norms by the ministry.

"There should be competition among contractors (for road projects). And this is also not true that those contractors who quote low prices for work, compromise with the quality of work," he said.

According to the minister, contractors will have to reduce the cost of construction to survive.

"Gone are days when there were 5-7 big (construction) companies, which used to make cartel and bag contracts... And I understand technical and financial qualification game plan," Gadkari, who is known for expressing views frankly, said.

The minister asserted that there is no shortage of funds, people are waiting to invest in infrastructure projects.

He said Delhi-Meerut Expressway is going to be inaugurated very soon.

Gadkari said over 1 lakhcrore tunnel projects have been taken by the road transport and highways ministry.

The minister lamented that contractors are not serious about the plantation along the National Highways.

He pointed out that with multipleroad safety interventions, there is a reduction in road accidents from the rate of 0.4 per lane per km in 2018 to 0.3 per lane per km in 2020.

According to Gadkari, NHAI targeted to raise 5,000 crore throughtheinfrastructure investment trusts (InvITs)with about 2,000 crore from debt and 3,000 crores from investors.

He also said that MoRTH through NHAI is planning to raise 1 lakh crore through monetization of highways underToll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) modelin the next five years.

Gadkari also pointed out that monthly toll collection has reached 2,000 crore per month, which is 80% of pre-Covid-19 level.

The minister also said that his ministry isplanning to construct tunnels worth 2.5 lakh crore.

Gadkari also said that the use of steel and cement should be reduced in road construction without compromising on quality through innovation and research. He saidCNG, LNG and ethanol should be used for the road equipment machinery.

The minister emphasised on import substitution, cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous methods and the development of alternative fuel.

Gadkari said India with about 63 lakh km of road network is the second largest road network in the world. The government is investing 1.4 trillion dollars ( 111 lakh crores) in infrastructure development through National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), he added.

The government has also increased year on year infrastructure capex by 34% to Rs. 5.54 lakh crore this year, he said.

Increased investment in infrastructure would help create employment during the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. The minister said his aim is to construct a 60,000 km world-class national highway at the rate of 40 km per day.

First Published Date: 11 Jul 2021, 17:34 PM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS
Shopping Bag Shop Now
1% OFF
Godrej aer O – Hanging Car Air Freshener | Car Accessories | Cool Aqua (7.5g)
Rs. 98 Rs. 99
70% OFF
VENO Portable High Power 2 in 1 Car Vacuum Cleaner | USB Rechargeable Wireless Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner Traveling, Camping Reusable and Sustainable (2 in 1 Vacuum Cleaner)
Rs. 899 Rs. 2,999
65% OFF
Ambrane 38W Fast Car Charger with Dual Output, Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery, Type-C & USB Port, Wide Compatibility for Smart Phones (RAAP C38 A, Black)
Rs. 349 Rs. 999
4% OFF
Godrej aer O – Hanging Car Air Freshener | Car Accessories | Musk After Smoke (7.5g)
Rs. 95 Rs. 99

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers on

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Choose city
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy

Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.