Govt plans 18,637 km of expressways by 2022

NEW DELHI: The government plans to build 18,637 km of expressways in three phases by 2022, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry in December 2008 had hired a consultancy services for formulating a master plan for the national expressway network in a phased manner by the end of 2022.

"The Final Report submitted by the consultants, duly considering the views/observations received from the state governments and inter-alia recommending total expressway network of about 18,637 km for completion in prioritised manner in three phases spanning up to the year 2022, has been accepted by the government," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways R P N Singh told the Lok Sabha.

Transport Minister Kamal Nath had earlier said that the network will be build at an investment of Rs 3.35 lakh crore, excluding land acquisition costs.

The Transport Ministry is also in the process of expediting the establishment of an Expressways Authority of India to look exclusively at the requirements of building expressways, which are roads that facilitate faster traffic flow between two places.

The 11th Plan (2007-12) has also suggested setting up an Expressways Authority to formulate and implement a master plan expressways for high-density corridors.