TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ The first project under Bharatmala is expected to be awarded by the end of next year as the land acquisition process and detailed project reports for the mega infrastructure scheme are underway, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.
Gadkari said the government was hopeful that the scheme would elicit a great response from the private sector.
All the projects under Bharatmala would be technically, financially and economically appraised by an empowered project appraisal and technical scrutiny committee under the National Highway Authority of India and the ministry of road transport and highways, he said. Guidelines for the scrutiny of projects have already been laid down.
He said a “grand challenge” mechanism would be adopted to encourage state government participation for implementing the programme, and the projects supported by states would be taken up on priority.
