NHAI identifies 183 sites for wayside amenities along NHs

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 183 sites to set up wayside amenities along national highways, Parliament was informed today.
"These sites will be developed to provide facilities such as separate parking for cars, buses and trucks, restaurant/food court, low cost dhaba, telephone booth/ATM, fuel station & minor repair shop, rest rooms for short-stay, clean toilets, landscaping...," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Wayside amenities now form part of major highway improvement projects.
The minister said out of the 183 identified sites, land for 63 sites is available with NHAI and bids for 16 sites have been invited with due date of receipt in August, 2017.

"Bids for the remaining sites are being invited shortly. A Project Management Consultant (PMC) has been appointed to assist in the overall implementation of the project and to engage specialised firms for developing and operating these facilities," he said.
The road ministry grants access permission to the retail outlets located along the National Highways.
As per the licence agreement signed as part of granting such access permission, it is mandatory for retail outlets to provide toilet and drinking water facilities to the users.