India tollway deal plus work for roads, bridges and tunnels

A 21-year concession deal has been agreed for the widening project for a 114km stretch of road linking Gujarat and Rajasthan states in India. The route will be widened to six lanes, with three in either direction. The project financing is worth over US$226 million, with a group of lenders having agreed the terms for the project with the 292 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The agreement has been achieved by Udaipur Tollways, disclosed 2700 IRB Infrastructure Developers, which owns the special purpose vehicle for the stretch on NH8.

Meanwhile research carried out jointly by the Union road transport and highways ministry reveals concern over the condition of older bridges and tunnels on the National Highway network. The analysis was carried out as part of the Indian Bridge Management System and showed that of the 23 bridges and tunnels over a century old that are part of the National Highway system, some 17 are need to be repaired or upgraded. Meanwhile further research shows that 123 bridges across India are so severely dilapidated that they require immediate repairs while a further 6,000 are in very poor condition and needs to be improved.