(Express Photo by Jaipal Singh)Bharatmala Project, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet on October 25, is the second largest highways construction project in the country since NHDP, under which almost 50,000 km or highway roads were targeted across the country. Bharatmala will look to improve connectivity particularly on economic corridors, border areas and far flung areas with an aim of quicker movement of cargo and boosting exports. Northeastern states have been given special focus in the project and international trade is a key aspect as well. It will also subsume 10,000 km roads under the National Highway Development Project (NHDP) program. The main agencies tasked with the construction are the National Highways Authority of India, National Highway and Industrial Development Corporation and state public works departments.

Source: Indian Express October 26, 2017 06:56 UTC