Satisfactory progress in highways building

Expediting pace of highways building and toll collection figured prominently in a review meeting of infrastructure sectors chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The progress of the sector was found satisfactory with award of more than 5,000 km of highways contracts and construction of 2,900 km in the current financial year.
Toll collection till October was estimated at Rs 3,900 crore, an official said.
For the current fiscal, the government has set a target of award of 10,000 km and completion of 10,950 km of national highways.
The source of funds for construction of national highways include budgetary support from the government, part proceeds of central road fund, plough back of toll revenue, market borrowings and equity from the developers.

Last fiscal, the government has set a target of award of 6,330 km of highways and construction of 4,410 km of roads.
The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in sectors such as renewable energy, piped natural gas, irrigation, roads an railways.
The meeting was attended by Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, as also senior officials from PMO, NITI Aayog, and the ministries concerned.