The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has fast-tracked approval of 1,500 km of coastal road projects after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on infrastructure development in his Independence Day speech.
In his national address on India’s 74th Independence Day, the prime minister said a National Infrastructure Pipeline worth Rs 110 lakh crore has been set up to boost infrastructure projects.
“We will now focus on multi-model connectivity infrastructure. We can’t work in silos anymore; we need to focus on comprehensive and integrated infrastructure. About 7,000 projects of different sectors have also been identified. It will bring a new revolution in infrastructure sector,” he announced.
The prime minister also emphasised the “huge” security role of our border and coastal infrastructure.
Among the projects planned, the official said focus would be on connecting Chennai and Kanyakumari – for which 400 km of roads have been identified in Odisha. He also noted that some of these projects are also part of the Centre’s flagship Bharatmala programme.