Cabinet approves road building projects worth Rs. 7 lakh crore

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday nodded in approval for road building projects worth Rs. 7 lakh crore, including the ambitious 'Bharatmala programme' launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government.

The government said the investment would target constructing 83,677 km of roads in the next five years.

"These road building projects, including the 'Bharatmala' project of around 35,000 km with an investment of Rs. 5.35 lakh crore, is likely to create 14.2 crore man-days of jobs," the Cabinet said.

'Bharatmala' is the biggest ever road building programme after the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) that saw the development of about 50,000 km of roadways.

It aims at improving connectivity in border and other areas.

"The 'Bharatmala' project includes 9,000 km of economic corridor to smoothen connectivity of manufacturing hubs," the government announced at a media briefing after a meeting of the Union Cabinet.

"Under the project, 6,000 km of inter-corridor and feeder routes will be constructed to ensure holistic connectivity," Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said.

The government also approved the construction of 2,000 km of roads, along the eastern and western borders of the country to boost border roads and international connectivity.

Meanwhile, to boost tourism and industrial development, 2,100 km of coastal roads have been planned.

Port connectivity will also be increased by building 2,000 km of roads in conjunction with Sagarmala.