Will complete target to build 1 lakh-km new national highway

India's target of constructing one lakh-km-long new National Highway would be completed before the deadline of eight years, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh Mandaviya said here Saturday.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a bridge on Khandepar river, 50 kms away from here.

Mandaviya said that when Narendra Modi-led government took over, the target was set to construct one lakh kilometre long National Highway in eight years.

"But considering the pace of work, we will be able to achieve that target much before the deadline", the minister said.

Mandaviya said that when BJP came to power at Centre, the country had only 92,000 kilometres of National Highway.

"PMNarendra Modi said that when four crore new vehicles are added to the road, we need to take up major work on creating the National Highways. We decided that in 8 years, we will construct one lakh kilometres new National highway", he said.

The minister said the Union government hasalready constructed 40,000-km-long new national highway while 53,000 km stretch of national highway is under construction.

"We could do all this because we stopped corruption and money was diverted towards infrastructure projects", he said, adding that besides the National Highways, the work is also going on new Railway Lines and Airport infrastructure across the country.

"The country had 67 airports when we took over and now we have added 33 airports. Due to the additional capacity of airports, the demand for aircraft is increased. Orders are already placed for 1,000 more aircraft", he added.