NHIDCL committed to augment infra in NE, border areas: Gadkari

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) is committed to fast-track highway projects in the North-East and strategic border areas, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
"NHIDCL is committed to augment infrastructure in the North-East and strategic border areas and thereby bring in socio-economic transformation in the area," Gadkari said while addressing a function to mark inception day of NHIDCL.
NHIDCL, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, was incorporated to speed up the construction of National Highways and other infrastructure in the North-East and strategic areas sharing international boundaries. It has completed a year of its inception.

Stressing on the need for a strong monitoring system to oversee projects, Gadkari said NHIDCL aims to be a transparent and corruption-free organisation, adding that funds would not be a constraint for highways projects.
The company has been entrusted with the task of developing and improving road connectivity of about 10,000 kms highways, including the international trade corridor in the North-East, and 500 kms of roads in north Bengal and north eastern region of India.
This would not only enable efficient and safe transport regionally with other South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) member countries but promote cross border trade and commerce, Gadkari said.

"As of today, the company has been entrusted with 99 National Highway projects covering an approximate length of 4,400 kms to be executed at a cost of approximately Rs 50,000 crore...

"During 2016-17, the company proposes to award 54 projects covering 4,900 kms with an estimated cost of Rs 48,000 crore," NHIDCL Managing Director Anand Kumar said.
Kumar added that the company is striving hard to create strong infrastructure in the country besides setting a mission to be a professional, efficient and transparent company.
"NHIDCL has identified seven key strategies to follow in order to become a Fortune 500 company... It is using e-tools like e-Office, e-Tendering, e-Monitoring, e-Access for efficiency and transparency.

"Secondly, the company is revisiting various procedures and processes followed today to enhance the ease in doing infrastructure business," he said.
About the work done so far, Kumar said, "During the first year of its inception itself, NHIDCL awarded 18 projects covering approximately 600 kms at a cost of Rs 6,446 crore."
"During 2015-16, the company proposes to award 27 projects covering 1,360 kms with an estimated cost of Rs 14,599 crore," he added.
Last year, NHIDCL assisted the Ministry to prepare and establish two e-portals; inam pro - a market place for selling and buying cement and other raw materials and e-pace - for monitoring progress of various projects.