The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of 1120 km of National Highways in the states of Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan and West Bengal. 

The work for development to two-lane standards are under Phase-I of the National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project (NHIIP) with World Bank assistance. 

The revised estimated cost is Rs 6,461 crore including the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. While the initial proposal was approved for Rs5,193 crore, the cost increased due to higher bid prices and increase in the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. 

“The projects are already taken up for implementation and 429 km has been completed. The civil works are expected to be completed by July 2019 and maintenance works are expected to be completed by July 2024. The project will ensure safe, fast and all weather movement of traffic on the proposed National Highways mostly located in backward regions thereby improving socio-economic development,” said the government’s official statement. 

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