Ministry plans to convert state roads into highways

NEW DELHI: Over 7,000 km of state roads could converted to national highways at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore over seven years if the Cabinet approves a proposal submitted by the national highways ministry. Priority will be given to areas affected by Left-wing extremism and regions such as Telangana, where about 130 km of roads are not connected to the national grid from Karimnagar and Khammam districts, officials said.

According to the proposal, prepared on the basis of wish lists received by the ministry from various state governments, the plan includes about 5,000 km of state roads and over 2,000 km of roads that are important from the security perspective. "The highways ministry will cull out the relevant roads where the conversion will be applicable. Broadly, about 7,000-7,200 km will be upgraded to the national highway status," an official said, adding that the proposal was initially taken up at a Cabinet meeting, where the ministry was advised that the matter should be discussed at the committee of secretaries. After discussions under this committee, the ministry has sent the proposal to the Cabinet again for approval, said the official, requesting anonymity.

As per the wish lists submitted by various states, there are over 5,890 km of roads where the district headquarters are not connected with the existing national highway network. Besides, there are about 2,200 km of state roads in regions including the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir, and Gujarat that have been identified by the government as having "strategic importance".

The ministry has awarded contracts for only about 2,500-2,700 km of roads this fiscal while its target was 7,300 km. Officials had earlier told ET that the ministry planned to award about 3,300 km by March-end.