Government to decide on termination of contracts in highway projects by April end: Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Road transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari today said that private players in the highway sector are asking him to provide an exit route and government is trying to work out a mechanism. "They (companies) are asking me to give them moksha (salvation)," Gadkari said. He was addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry conference on building India.

Gadkari said that a cabinet note will soon be moved to decide the termination of contracts in 26 projects. "We are not in a position to allow sale of projects. By end of April we will have a decision on these projects," he said. So far 44 projects have been terminated by the road ministry.

Gadkari said that for 80 highway projects the government has received the environment clearance and for another 80 projects the rail clearance has come through. "Within a year 30 kms a day target will be achieved," he said.

The union minister is also planning to visit Japan to raise funds for infrastructure.

Pushing for the reforms in land acquisition act, Gadkari said that it is essential to get the bill passed to improve irrigation facilities for farmers. "Only 5.4 per cent of water is being used in Jharkhand for farming, rest is going waste due to lack of irrigation projects."

Gadkari is going to visit some areas in Uttar Pradesh to take stock of the situation caused by damage to crops during the recent rains.