Key Points
India could soon roll out a new mega highways construction programme, in line with Narendra Modi-led NDA government vision 2047, replacing Bharatmala Pariyojana to enhance connectivity in the country..
The proposed programme will clearly spell out parameters for eligibility criterion of roads to be identified as a national priority coupled with changes in Model Concession Agreement for expeditious infrastructure creation and minimising contract disputes and litigation. "Future projects will be awarded under a new scheme..
Besides the change in approach, tweaks in Model Concession Agreement (MCA) for all road building contracts are being readied to minimise contract disputes and litigation..
According to official data, the country has been annually constructing over 10,000 kilometres of national highways (NH) since the launch of Bharatmala in October 2017..
The goal of the scheme was to build 74,942 kilometres (km) of NH, of which 34,800 km was approved as the first phase for development (till September 2022) against 5.35 lakh crore investment..
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