44 expressways by 2022

In a prelude to creating a national expressways authority on the lines of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath has already set a time table of works that the agency would implement. In a report drafted by the ministry, the minister has set a target of creating 44 expressways across the country at an estimated investment of over Rs 3,00,000 crore under the public private partnership (PPP) mode by 2022.
The 18,637 km of expressways to come up over 16 states in the country would be developed in three phases. In the first phase, the government would create 11 expressways by 2012.Some of these would include four-laning and up gradation of existing highways into expressways that are access controlled.Under this phase, expressways would come up across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala among others. Phase I is planned on busy routes that not only service passenger traffic but also freight and pass through the industrial heart of the country.
In the second phase 13 expressways will come up including four lane and six lane access controlled stretches spanning 4,300 km by 2017. In the last phase, 8 expressways spanning 5,500 km will come up over the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan among others.
The estimated cost of construction is estimated at Rs 14 crore per km for four lane and Rs 20 crore per km for six lane roads. Of the total number of projects, about a dozen would be bid out on annuity by way of which the government pays a fixed amount every year to the developer for construction works. The detailed concept paper on expressways says that these will serve as high speed trunk routes with clover leaf and diamond interchanges with other intersecting highways.According to the initial plan, toll plazas would be created at every 70 kms or so depending on the ground situation. Way side amenities would also be spaced similarly, the paper says.
Wayside amenities that may come up include eateries, rest rooms, dormitories, telephone booths, fuel stations garages, first aid facilities and parking space for different categories of vehicles segregating the parking for buses and trucks from cars and other light vehicles. Keeping in mind the needs of hinterland, the expressways would have cattle crossings apart from pedestrian crossings and over bridges.