New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The government will spend Rs.1 lakh crore (Rs.1,000 billion/$21 billion) this fiscal and an equal amount in subsequent years with a target of building 20 km of road every day, Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Kamal Nath said Thursday.
“This year we will build more road kilometres than what was done between 1999-2004. The target of building 7,000 km road this year alone will make a visible difference in infrastructure,” Kamal Nath said.

He was speaking at a seminar titled “Accelerating the Pace of Highways Development in India”, conducted by industry lobby Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

According to him the target of 20 km a day is a big challenge before the government.

The government is also considering feasibility studies for the projects it plans to take up.

“This would ensure that there are no cost and time overruns. We would also address the lack of capacity of the technical consultants.”

According to FICCI president Harsh Pati Singhania, a new regulator has to be constituted to promote development of highways.

Successful implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) projects is important to ensure proper development, he said.

PPP projects could be made successful by clearly defining service requirements, shorter tender process and coordination between central and local governments, Singhania added.