Bharatmala project to turn to finance ministry for allocation of funds

Bharatmala is the largest highways project after the National Highways Development Programme

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Bharatmala scheme will now depend on the finance ministry for funds because allocation for road projects under the newly announced Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), unlike the Central Road Fund (CRF), has become discretionary.

Earlier 41.5 per cent of the finances under the CRF were earmarked for national highway development. Fourteen per cent was for the railways, 10 per cent for state roads, and the remaining for rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. 

The Union government has proposed amendments to the CRF Act through the Finance Bill to create a panel