“Bharatmala Project 2.0” – Union Government includes 4000 extra kms of “Green Field Road” and “3000 kms “Expressway”

Phase 1 is planned to construct around 34,000 kms and Phase 2 around 48,000 kms

• The Union government has proposed to include 4000 kms extra for Green Field Road and 3000 kms for Expressway as the part of Bharatmala Project Phase -2 which allow uninterrupted traffic flow.
• The Bharatmala Phase -1, the 2nd biggest Highway project proposed by Union Government is to executed as soon as the bid out is successfully carried out. The Government has invited fresh bid to undertake the project with various criteria.
• The project was proposed in October 2018 was delayed of execution due to detailed Project Report preparation that also covers various supplementary works and projects connected with Bharatmala Project.
• Now, the Union Government has come fledge to execute it with the new proposal of the Phase -2 of the project since the transportation time and quality improvement in transportation in high demand.
• The 3000 kms extra Expressway includes Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata, Indore-Mumbai, Bengaluru-Pune and Chennai – Tirchy. Whereas, 4000 extra Green filed road includes Patna-Rourkela, Jhansi-Raipur, Solapur-Belgaum, Bengaluru – Kadappa – Vijawada, Gorakhpur-Bareilly and Varanasi-Gorakhpur.

What is Bharatmala Project?

The Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.

Aim of the Bharatmala Pariyojana

• Improvement in efficiency of existing corridors through development of Multimodal Logistics Parks and elimination of choke point.
• Enhance focus on improving connectivity in North East and leveraging synergies with Inland Waterways.
• Emphasis on use of technology & scientific planning for Project Preparation and Asset Monitoring
• Delegation of powers to expedite project delivery – Phase I to complete by 2022 Improving connectivity in the North East.

The Strength of Bharatmala Project

•  The plan envisages the construction of 83,677 km roads, including 34,800 km of additional highways and roads across the country, apart from an existing plan of building 48,877 km of new highways by the National Highway Authority of India. The Bharatmala has synergy with Sagarmala.
• The expenses will be covered by Central Road Fund (CRF) which was created as a non-lapsable fund under the “Central Road Fund Act 2000”, by imposing a cess on petrol and diesel, to build and upgrade National Highways, State roads, rural roads, railway under/over bridges etc, and national waterways.

Bharatmala – The significant boost for highway infrastructure

• Raise 6 NC corridors to 50 corridors (6 NC and 44 EC)
• Raise 40% freight to 80% freight on National Highways
• Raise 300 districts to 550 districts connected by minimum 4-lane highwaysWhat are Categories of the Project for the Infrastructure Development?
• Economic Corridor – As per the guidelines of the road construction project, the construction of 9000kms of Economic Corridors will be undertaken by the central government.
• Feeder Route or Inter Corridor – The total length of the roads, which fall under the Feeder Route or Inter Corridor category, is a whopping 6000kms.
• National Corridor Efficiency Improvement – 5000kms of roads, constructed under the scheme will fall in the category of National Corridor for the better connection between roads.
• Border Road and International Connectivity – Connecting the cities and remote areas, which are situated in the border regions, the project has kept provision for constructing 2000kms roads that fall in the Border Road or International Connectivity category.
• Port Connectivity and Coastal Road – To connect the areas that are dotted along the shorelines and important ports, the central government has ordered the construction of 2000km of roads.
• Green Field Expressway – The main stress will be given on the construction and development of Green Field Expressway for better management of traffic and freight.
•  Balance NHDP Works – Under the last segment, the project will see a construction and maintenance of about 10,000kms of new roads.

Pic courtesy:Times Now Hindi