The Centre is currently contemplating to build 15, 600 km national expressways network in the next three and a half years with a staggering investment of Rs. 2,25,000 crore. In view of short span of time period to reach the target, it has decided to build 2,000 to 3000 km long expressways a year on the build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) module.

According to sources in the Union Transport ministry, the government is keen to kick-start the stalled road programme to boost connectivity across the key states of the country over the next few years. While the ministry has envisaged the construction of 15,600 km of national expressways network in three phases, the Uttar Pradesh government is also planning to build five major expressways in the state with two extending to parts of Uttarakhand.

In the draft report prepared by the ministry, several greenfield or new alignments could cover additional 500 to 700 km expressways. The study was carried out to formulate a master plan for development of expressways and has given priority to the entire network to be completed in three phases ending in 2012, 2017 and 2022. With the proposed better land acquisition norms in place, inclusive tendering and faster decision making on tendering, the report states that at the all India level, the projects cost could be anywhere over Rs, 250,000 crore.

The report has identified substantial number of expressways stretches in the western, eastern and northern regions. Of the seven regions where traffic growth has been significant in the recent past and is likely to continue in the future, the report has recommended that a majority projects covering 12,386 km could be developed under BOT while 5,272 km under on annuity bases. The government has already deployed teams to expedite the planning of expressways projects and also to work on the master plan. It has suggested setting up a nodal authority named as the National Expressways Authority of India (NEAI) with equipped state units for efficient implementation of the projects.