While the cumulative NH construction at 13,000 km exceeded the target set by the highways ministry by 18%, the government could achieve the target in award of contracts at 10,000 km.
Sources said while NHAI, which mostly constructs highways of four lanes and more reported the highest ever construction of around 4,100 km, falling a little short of the target, the construction and widening of highways by the road ministry was close to 7,750 km compared to the target of 5,680 km. The road ministry largely executes highway projects through the state public works departments (PWDs).
NHIDCL, another wing of highways ministry that undertakes road works in the north-east and hill states, reported construction of 1,053 km in 2020-21. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had earlier announced that his ministry would create record construction of highways and he desired to achieve construction of 40 km NH per day.
Addressing officials on Wednesday, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal said the total loading of freight was 1,224 million tonnes (MTs) and it was expected to touch 1,230 MTs by the evening. He said this achievement was registered despite the shortfall of 70 MTs during the first four month of 2020-21. Goyal said railways had been setting records every month since September registering the highest ever loading of freight.
Railway ministry officials also said the revenue from freight movement had touched Rs 1.17 lakh crore on early Wednesday, which was 3% more than 2019-20. “This figure may increase a bit by Wednesday midnight,” said a source.
Goyal said had revenue from passenger segments not been hit, the railways would have achieved an even better record.
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