National Highways Network Increased By 5,694 Km

The government yesterday added 5,694 km of state roads to the national highway network, increasing the total length of national highways in the country to 57,704 km.

"We have notified 5,694 km of new national highways that will increase the present network of national highways from 52,010 km to 57,704 km," Union surface transport minister Rajnath Singh said.

About Rs 8,000 crore would be spent on the new additions to make them of national highways level riding quality by 2003, he said adding the new national highways were likely to remove regional disparities and enable the economic development of the country to its full potential.

 

Stating that no political consideration was involved in inclusion of state roads as national highways, Singh said special attention has been paid to the most backward and populous areas.

"We also plan to provide a grid of national highways which will ensure that no point in the country is beyond 50 km from some national highway," he said.

He, however, said the Indian Road Congress (IRC) target of having a national highway network of 66,000 km by 2000 was unlikely to be met during the current ninth plan period (1997-2002).

All national highways in the country, including the new additions, would be made of riding quality by 2003, Singh said, adding money would not be constraint in developing national highways.