The government, although on the defensive about its record of building highways under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, made it clear that it was not considering any white paper on the status of functioning of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

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The Opposition attacked it for handling of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).

Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath said he had not felt any need to analyse the past performance of NHAI, as his focus was on the future. “I don’t think there is need for a white paper,” he said.

Nath was asked about interference of the ministry in functioning of NHAI during the previous term of the UPA government and changing of NHAI chairman five times in past two years.

“I have not done an analysis of that, as I want to look at the future,” he said.

He said the road construction in past five years was better than the progress in the previous five years when the NDA was in power. This remark drew sharp criticism from the Opposition BJP members, who alleged that the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), initiated during the NDA regime, had not kept any of the deadlines in past five years.

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said the minister was wrong in saying that progress in past five years was better than during the NDA regime.

Nath said he had set a target of completing 20 km of roads per day or 7,000 km in a year. This would involve six/four-laning and enhancing existing two-lane roads. “Much of this has to be on tolling method,” he said.

On why no contract for road construction was awarded in 2008, he said some projects did not get any bid because of the ongoing economic slowdown and global uncertainty. “There has been a lull in awarding contracts,” he said.

Nath said the government has planned 48 highway projects in different states at a total cost of Rs 47,181 crore in Phase III of the NHDP in 2005. But the detailed project reports (DRP) for none of the 48 projects were ready in 2005.

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