Budget 2020: Government To Monetise 6,000 Km Of Highways

The central government has proposed to raise funds by monetising highways by using data from the FASTag payments mechanism.

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The NIP was drawn up by a task force in December last year and includes projects that stretch from 2019-20 to 2024-25. The cumulative spend on the pipeline is estimated at Rs 105 lakh crore.

The pipeline includes greenfield and brownfield projects which are either at the conceptual stage, under implementation and under development. Projects worth about 42 lakh crore are already under implementation.

“These new projects will include housing, safe drinking water, access to clean and affordable energy, healthcare for all, world-class educational institutions, modern railway stations, airports, bus terminals, metros, railway transportation, logistics and warehousing and irrigation projects,” the minister said.

The NIP will improve ease of living for each and every citizen in the country and it will also bring in generic and sector-specific reforms in the development, operation and maintenance of these projects, she added.

With an estimate of Rs 19.5 lakh crore, annual investment spend is expected to peak in FY20-21, according to the task force’s report.

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