WB-aided highway project to revamp road network
By Batuk Vora

The World Bank-financed highway network project is expected to considerably strengthen the state’s infrastructural facilities.

The Bank, in a report, has recognised that Gujarat has one of the most developed road networks in India. However, its rapidly increasing industrial facilities call for more highways. Though 90 per cent of the state’s roads are two-laned, the rapid increase in traffic over the last decade has resulted in a growing number of accidents and slowing down of traffic.

The demand for intercity freight transport is projected to double every 12 years while the demand for passenger transport is expected to double every 10 years or so across the country.

This project is being financed by the Bank to the tune of approximately Rs 222.60m. This would include road widening, strengthening, consultancy services and equipment.

The proposed project will widen and strengthen approximately 820 km of state roads apart from periodic maintenance works on about 855 km.

Gujarat, with a population of 46m is the seventh largest and tenth most populous state. Its road network consists of 70,609 km, of which 1,570 km are classified as national highways, 19,655 as state highways, 20,364 as major district roads and the rest as district and rural roads.

An Environmental Study Report (ESR) completed in February 1998 says there will be little impact on the environment since no new roads will be constructed under the project.

In India, about 60 per cent of freight and 85 per cent passenger traffic is through roads, with the balance carried mainly by rail.

The rapid growth of the road network in India, although achieving the political and social objectives of national connectivity and rural access, was only made possible by constructing a great deal of low quality single-lane (3.75 metres wide) and intermediate- lane (5.5 metres) roads.

As a result, India’s arterial road system is now highly congested and of poor riding quality, causing high vehicle operating costs and low quality services for users.

With the financial aid and technical assistance of the World Bank, many states are planning re forms to foster systematic road network maintenance policies.

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