It marks a shift from the present observe of the NHAI focusing solely on the event of recent highways and expressways beneath the Bharatmala Pariyojana and the street transport and highways ministry immediately implementing these tasks.
ET has seen a replica of the directive.
The main focus has shifted to the prevailing highways as a result of the finance ministry has paused sanction of recent street tasks beneath the Bharatmala Pariyojana because of excessive challenge price and fund points, mentioned a senior authorities official, who didn’t want to be recognized.
Consultants mentioned this might ease congestion on many highways whereas making certain their repairs. “Nationwide Highways (Authentic) tasks are extra bent in direction of upgradation and upkeep not like greenfield ones. Therefore, the financial influence will likely be extra on ease of congestion,” mentioned Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, world head of consulting, Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics.
As per the NHAI directive, the authority will take up 79 Nationwide Highways (Authentic) tasks spanning about 1,421 km at an estimated price of ₹1,44,392 crore on this monetary 12 months.The scheme has two classes of tasks – NHO1 and NHO2 – targeted on the upkeep and improve of the prevailing nationwide highways community.NHO1 tasks contain upkeep, restore and minor upgrades of the unique nationwide highways, whereas NHO2 tasks usually embrace extra intensive upgrades and modernisation of the unique nationwide highways, geared toward enhancing the capability and security of the highways, accommodating elevated site visitors and enhancing total effectivity.
Of the ₹1,44,392 crore, ₹71,112 crore is to be spent on NHO1 tasks and ₹73,280 crore on NHO2 tasks.
As per the prioritised plan of the NHAI for 2024-25, accredited by the street transport and highways ministry, 39 tasks have been recognized beneath NHO1 and 40 tasks beneath NHO2.
“The ministry will now undertake these tasks by the NHAI after cupboard approval,” the official mentioned. “Nonetheless, this shift might considerably sluggish the creation of recent greenfield highways and expressways within the present monetary 12 months.”
Bihar leads the checklist of states within the variety of nationwide highways to be undertaken by the NHAI this 12 months beneath the NH (O) scheme, adopted by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
