BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA TO FILL THE TRAFFIC OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS

June 20, 2021  

A good transport network is one of the fundamental pillars of the development of any country. The construction of new and developed state highways is crucial to connect the areas and maintain a smooth flow of traffic, leading to more economic activities. Bharatmala Pariyojana was conceived by the Honorable Minister of RTH Shri Nitin Gadkari, headed by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as a new comprehensive road sector program aimed at optimizing the efficiency of the transportation of cargo and passengers across the country by filling gaps in critical infrastructure through effective interventions. The main objective of the program is to develop and improve roads in a comprehensive manner.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved the implementation of an overall program for the National Roads Sector - Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase - I, covering a period of 5 years (2017-18 to 2021-22). The program includes the development of a total length of 64,374 km. However, Phase I will begin construction of some 24,800 km, in addition to completing 10,000 km of residual National Highway Development Program (NHDP) work. Phase I has an estimated capital expenditure of Rs 535,000 crore including Rs 150,000 crore for the implementation of NHDP residual works.

BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA: EXCELLENT PROPERTIES

• ·        The program focuses on a corridor-based approach rather than a package-based approach
• ·       Improving the efficiency of existing corridors by developing MMLPs and eliminating congestion points
• ·        Focus on improving connectivity in NE and exploiting synergies with inland waterways
• ·        Use of technology and scientific planning for project preparation and asset tracking.
• ·        Phase I will be completed in 2022

Previously, road development was carried out under the National Highway Development Program (NHDP). However, it was later judged that the NHDP had reached a certain level of maturity and that it was important to redefine road development and have a macro approach when planning the expansion of the national road network. Policymakers believed that the focus should be on road development reform by reducing critical infrastructure gaps. Bharatmala was conceptualized in that context. This program aims at a corridor-based approach instead of the existing package-based approach.

Under Pariyojana, the aim is to develop economic corridors, intercorridors and feeder routes, to improve the efficiency of the national corridor, border and international connecting roads, coastal and port connecting roads and Greenfield highways to improve road connectivity. It was decided that the various components of Pariyojana will be implemented by MORTH through executive agencies such as NHAI, NHIDCL and State PWD/RDC through the Ministry's Highway Wing.

Bharatmala Pariyojana foresees the development of economic corridors, which together with the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and the North-South and East-West (NS-EW) corridors are expected to carry most of the freight traffic on the roads. In addition, some 8,000 km of intercorridors and some 7,500 km of feeder routes have been identified to improve the efficiency of the economic corridors, the GQ and NS-EW corridors. The program also foresees the development of ring roads and elevated corridors to relieve traffic through cities and improve logistics efficiency. Up to 28 cities have been identified for ring roads, 125 bottlenecks and 66 congestion points for improvement.

Although the Bharatmala Pariyojana was approved by the CCEA cabinet in October 2017, the network identified in the program has been optimized to improve connectivity in key economic centers. Relatively straighter Greenfield alignments have been identified to connect key economic corridors.

BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA: CATEGORIES

• ·        Economic corridor
• ·        Supply route or intermediate passage
• ·        Improving the efficiency of the national corridor
• ·        Border highway and international connectivity
• ·        Port connection and coastal road
• ·        Greenfield Highway
• ·        Balancing NHDP works

To reduce congestion in the proposed corridors, improve logistics efficiency and reduce logistics costs of freight movements, 35 sites have been identified for the development of multimodal logistics parks (MMLP). These MMLPs are being developed on a "Hub and Spoke" model and are being implemented by NHAI and NHIDCL (in Northeast India). The development of these MMLPs is one of Pariyojana's efforts to overcome the logistics deficiencies in India, reduce associated costs and strategically integrate road projects and other connectivity initiatives such as inland waterways, railways, etc. into the load distribution. Ecosystem. The number of MMLPs will be further streamlined with reference to the interested state government's request for additional MMLPs and market demand analysis.

The Ministry is taking all necessary measures to ensure that the Bharatmala projects are implemented quickly. It is expected to give a great boost to the economic activities of the country and thus help to realize the prime minister's dream of "Atmanirbhar Bharat".