Centre targets slower highway expansion in FY27, revives BOT model
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: The Centre is set to adopt a more modest highway construction target for fiscal 2027 (FY27) as it focuses on clearing delayed projects while attempting to revive private investment through the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.The government is likely to target construction of 10,000 km in FY27, unchanged from the previous fiscal year, when actual construction fell short at about 9,400 km. The target marks a step-down from the record 13,814 km set for FY24 and about 12,500 km for FY25.
Actual construction in those two years stood at 12,349 km and 10,660 km, respectively, according to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.Road transport and highways secretary V Umashankar told Mint the FY27 construction target would remain under pressure because of delayed projects awaiting resolution. “But, we are confident that awards would meet the target of 10,000 km in FY27 due to a pipeline of appraised projects with the ministry that would be put up for awarding quickly.”While construction remained below target, highway awards stood at about 7,000 km in FY26.
A backlog of projects, coupled with delays in statutory clearances and land acquisition, has slowed execution of greenfield and brownfield highway projects.The biggest shift in FY27 awards would be a renewed push for BOT projects, where private developers bear the entire construction risk and recover investments through tolling rights over 15-20 years.Umashankar said the ministry expects about 2,500 km, or a quarter of planned highway awards this fiscal, to be bid out under the BOT model. The projects are estimated to be worth more than ₹1 trillion.“As BOT toll projects require a large amount of equity from
. Read on livemint.com