'Despite the
pandemic, we aspire to maintain the momentum of last year.'

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
"Innovative methods --
accelerated construction techniques, faster decision-making, putting extra
hour/resources -- will be tried to help achieve our targets, thereby arresting
any potential GDP fall," Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin
Gadkari tells Megha Manchanda.
The
government has decided to allow highway construction in pockets with zero or
minimal COVID-19 cases. How do you plan to ensure safety, social distancing,
hygiene, and food and shelter for migrant labourers?
My
ministry has made it very clear that all precautions required should be taken
by all concerned -- be it on project sites or any other place.
Which projects will be given priority when it
comes to starting construction?
I
have asked the road ministry, NHAI (National
Highways Authority of India), and NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure
Development Corporation) to grant the approvals, and complete other
desk work.
We
have bids under evaluation for more than 1,300 km in length which can be
awarded immediately. Another 1,500 km is ready for bidding.
I
don't think our targets will see any decline.
Will workers be asked to put in extra hours
to compensate for lost time? How will you ensure they get paid for overtime?
The
issue of determining working hours does not fall within the mandate of my
ministry. The ministry expects everybody to follow the law in this regard.
Contractors
and concessionaires are required to work accordingly and need to take care of
social distancing and other advisories.
Following relaxations after April 20, have
you prepared a blueprint of projects that will start?
Many
projects of national importance warrant an immediate start of work. However, we
also understand the intensity of this pandemic. I have reviewed the present
scenario with highway sector officers.
However,
we are only looking at allowing work to start where standard social distancing
norms can be followed.
Has any state, besides those in which work
has started, come forward with its request to begin work?
As
regards construction activity on the national highways network, we allow
construction only in rural areas (outside
the limit of municipalities).
Construction
work within municipalities will be allowed only where workers are available on
site, and no worker has to be brought in from outside.

IMAGE: Union Road Transport and Highways
Minister Nitin Gadkari. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo
Officers of MoRTH (ministry
of road transport and highways) and its implementing agencies such as NHAI
and state PWDs, are in close coordination with local district administration to
get necessary permissions.
What happens to new highway
projects announced by the government and road monetisation exercise?
New projects under the
Bharatmala Pariyojana will be taken up without delay.
Work on DPRs (detailed
project reports) is also being monitored intensively.
The idea is to push our
officers to take decisions expeditiously in view of the disruptions.
As for asset monetisation,
it is an instrument to raise funds and I am sure it will do well.
We will continue to explore
other possibilities like long-term loans, securitisation, and bonds.
We may also have to think
about some innovative ways of financing.
Will the roads ministry
revise its highway construction and execution target for FY21?
Despite the pandemic, we
aspire to maintain the momentum of last year. Our target for construction in
FY21 is slightly more than FY20 at 10,250 km.
Similarly, for awarding new
works, we have a target of 12,650 km.
What will be the economic
impact of COVID-19 on the road sector?
The crisis has led to a
lockdown and general slowing in economic activity globally. It is necessary to
get it up and running without delay.
The infrastructure sector,
in general, and highway sector, in particular, have multiplier effects on the
economy.
Innovative methods --
accelerated construction techniques, faster decision-making, putting extra
hour/resources -- will be tried to help achieve our targets, thereby arresting
any potential GDP fall.
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