The Golden Quadrilateral is targeted for completion by December 2003, while the North-South and East-West Corridors are due for completion by 2007. This was stated by Major General (Retd) B.C. Khanduri, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, on 2 July 2001, at a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to this Ministry.

The Minister said the total length involved in Golden Quadrilateral connecting Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai is 5834 km. Out of this, a length of 811 km is already four lane and a length of 2433 km is under implementation. The remaining length would be awarded at the rate of 1200 km per year from 2002-2003 and onwards. World Bank-IV loan amounting to US $ 589 million has recently been negotiated for the implementation of NHDP. Government has decided that to start with the entire money to be made available from road cess be primarily utilised for the Golden Quadrilateral.

The Minister said that it is proposed to take up the new development works amounting to about Rs.1400 crore on various National Highways in the country during 2001-2002. During the month of April, May and June 2001, developmental works amounting to about Rs.310 crore have been sanctioned on various National Highways in the country and works amounting to Rs.421 crore are under process. He added that the availability of funds for the maintenance and repair of National Highway is around 45 per cent of the requirement as per revised norms. For the current year, an amount of Rs.749 crore only has been made available for the maintenance and repairs of National Highways. The State-wise allocation of funds for the routine maintenance and repairs as per requirements and availability of funds has already been finalised for the year 2001-2002 and communicated to States.

Members were informed that in order to provide comfort to the road users, longer length of National Highways are being covered for improvement of riding quality. Apart from NHDP, the maintenance of about 44,000 km of National Highway is being done from the funds available from budget. During 1999-2000, a length of about 2400 km was covered under improvement of riding quality programme. A length of 5500 km was improved from Non-Plan funds. About 6000 km was covered during 2000-2001. Improvement of 2800 km of National Highways is proposed to be taken up during 2001-2002.

Presently, 19 projects costing about Rs.947 crore are under implementation on BOT basis, the Committee was informed.

Fifteen such projects have already been completed and toll is being collected. The Central Road Fund Act-2000 has come into force in December 2000. The funds available out of revamped CRF will be used for development of rural roads, development and maintenance of National Highways and State roads, construction of rail over/under bridges and railway safety works and for the improvement of roads of economic and inter-state importance. Allocation to the States for the improvement of State roads is done on 60 per cent weightage to petrol and diesel consumption in the State and 40 per cent weightage to geographical area of State for maintaining the balance among all the States. Detailed guidelines have been issued to the States for sending the proposals to the Ministry for approval. Projects amounting to about Rs.430 crore have already been sanctioned and projects costing Rs.1032 crore are under examination. An amount of about Rs.328 crore was released to States-UTs from CRF during 2000-2001.