PM Manmohan Singh's infrastructure committee meet on June 8

BANGALORE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of the infrastructure committee to take stock of the progress made in the highways sector in the first four years of the 11th five year plan, following which a strategy will be chalked out for the terminal year (2011-12).

The meeting on June 8 will be held in the backdrop of delays in achieving the target for building 20 km of road a day.

The government will also take a decision on the changes made to model concession agreement, restructuring and appointment of the Chairman of the National highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Those attending the meeting will include senior officials of the Planning Commission, NHAI and road and finance ministries. Road Transport and Highways minister CP Joshi will brief the prime minister about various initiatives undertaken by the ministry, including setting monthly award targets to expedite road projects.

The transport ministry had an ambitious plan of building 20 km of roads every day. However, the NHAI could only build 12 km of road a day in 2010 due to delays in the award of contracts and problems over land acquisition and environment clearances, among others.