The government has awarded contracts for 2,816 km road projects in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Bihar under its ambitious Bharatmala project to link coastal and border areas.
"National Highways Authority was entrusted with the task to prepare project reports for 3,543 km of network. The government has already awarded 2,816 km out of this," a top official told PTI.
The projects have mainly been awarded in states like Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
"The left over stretch mainly relates to Tamil Nadu where state Government has already initiated process for the development at their own," the official said.
The government is planning to construct 7,000 km of new national highways by including coastal and border areas under the Bharatmala Project.
"The Ministry has taken up detailed review of national highways network with a view to improve connectivity in border areas, including coastal boundary and connectivity covering development of about 7,000 km of new national highway under the Bharatmala Pariyojna in consultation with state governments," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said last month.
The government has said that initially Rs 50,000 crore would be spent on the project.
