The Union government has stated that it won't be able to award 4,000 km of highways on 100 per cent government funding mode known as engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) during this fiscal. The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry was pinning its hope in these contracts to push its performance this year, at a time when private investors are showing no interest.
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Set realistic road building targets: NHAI chief tells govt
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman RP Singh said in Delhi on January 17 that there is not enough capacity in the system to construct 7,000-8,000 km of highways every year, that too on public-private partnership (PPP) basis. He said that the government should set a more realistic target on road construction of about 3,000-4,000 km a year.
Centre eyes stiff road target in Five-year plan
To get at least 47 per cent investment from the private sector during this 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) period for construction of highways, the Union government is likely to set a stiff target for Road Transport and Highways Ministry. This is 9 per cent more than what the sector has got during the 11th Five Year Plan.
Banks shy of funding PPP projects in highways
Reports suggest that petroleum and natural gas and highways sectors witnessed maximum number of delayed projects owing to lack of funding or issues like statutory clearaÂnces.
The Market-Accessors
If rural roads act as connectors between highways and tolled for heavy vehicles, they can be made more viable. In several states, rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the NABARD-financed schemes are new and inviting.
Pune-Bangalore highway widening
Maharashtra government will soon invite bids for widening of the Pune-Bangalore highway to six lanes. The major highways passing through Pune like Pune-Nashik,
Sowing seeds in the right land
Sameer K Bhatnagar presents an investment landscape for Canadian companies to invest in India and outlines the major sectors where opportunities lie. These are interesting times for infrastructure comÂpanies in India.
NHAI earns over Rs 17,000 cr premium
Increasing interest by private players in the highways sector has helped NHAI award 17 projects worth over Rs 25,500 crore in the last six months, leaving the authority richer by over Rs 17,000 crore in the form of premium.
Achieving growth of road length: A wishlist
A recent post by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in its newly created Facebook wall reads "The road to success is always under construction". For most of the industry watchdogs,
VGF for unviable roads under BOT
In the midst of widespread protests and growing concerns as to the extent to which 'viable', toll-based road projects can work under PPP.

