NHAI spent Rs 53k crore on road projects in last 3 years

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said that the National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI) has spent over Rs 53,202 crore on road projects during the last three financial years.

The NHAI incurred an expenditure of Rs 17,490.48 crore, Rs 17,756.37 crore and Rs 17,955.57 crore in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-2010, respectively, on 256 highways projects, Minister of State for Highways R P N Singh informed the Rajya Sabha.

"Out of the 256 projects, 82 projects have been completed during the last three years and the balance work is under implementation," the minister said.

In reply to another question, the minister informed the House that the NHAI has restructured 47 schemes under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), mainly to increase their viability.

Singh also said that the award of contracts for building 23,744 km roads under the NHDP by 2010-11 has been approved by the ministry.

"So far, contracts for a total length of 5,822 km have been awarded under Work Plans I and II," he said.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has plans to build 35,000 km of highways in five years.