News:
- NHIDCL, a government company mandated to fast-track road projects in tough terrain, including border areas, is set to award projects worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore over the next five years.
- The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) will also be laying out 1,500 km of highways in various states under Modi government’s ambitious Bharat Mala project.
- NHIDCL has set a target to award projects worth Rs 1,30,000 crore, including 10,000 km of highways and 2,000 bridges.
- The Bharat Mala project envisages construction of 5,000 km of road network all along the borders and coastal areas at a cost of Rs 55,000 crore.
NHIDCL:
- NHIDCL was incorporated in July 2014 with the aim to fast-track highway projects that have been pending with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for several years.
- NHIDCL, a fully-owned company of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, awarded 18 projects last fiscal for building 600 km of roads at an expenditure of about Rs 8,500 crore.
- Foundation stones were laid by the company for 10 projects for building 281 kms of highways entailing an expenditure of Rs 5,320 crore.
- Of the current projects worth Rs 35,000 crore were being handled by it, mostly are in the North-East while the remaining are in Andaman & Nicobar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Source: ET