India has approved eight road projects worth $1.9bn in the states of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab to improve infrastructure, connectivity and travel times.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) of India approved the widening of highways under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) phase II, III, IV and V, to be carried out under a design, build, operate, finance and transfer (DBOFT) and toll basis.

CCI has approved six-laning of the 76.6km Chandikhole – Paradeep section on NH 5A in Orissa, at a cost of Rs10.1bn ($204.5m). The project will be implemented under NHDP phase V and the concession period will be 30 years, including a construction period of 30 months. Andhra Pradesh project involves six-laning of a 120.74km stretch on the Gundugolanu – Rajahmundry section of NH 5 under phase V.

The project will cost Rs17.6bn ($556m), out which Rs1.4bn ($30m) will be spent for land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction. After 30 months of construction, the project will be operated for 24 years under a concession agreement.

The first project in Uttar Pradesh involves four-laning of 177.55km of the Ghaghar Bridge – Varanasi section of NH 233 under phase IV, to be implemented at a cost of Rs18.95bn ($382m).

Another project has been approved in the state which involves four-laning of a 154.95km stretch from Sultanpur -Varanasi on NH 56, under phase IV of NHDP at a cost of Rs15.64bn ($297m).

The first project has been commissioned for 24 years, including construction period of 30 months, while the second project has been concessioned for 20 years, including 30 months of construction.

In Karnataka, a Rs.11.53bn ($225.38m) project has been approved for four-laning 80km of the Hoskote – Dobbaspet section on NH 207 under phase IV.

Also, four-laning of 110.5km of the Solapur – Bijapur stretch on NH 13 in Maharashtra and Karnataka has been approved, to be implemented at a cost of Rs.11bn ($212.78m) under a 20 year concession period.

In Rajasthan the project involves development and operation of the Sikar – Bikaner section of NH 11 at Rs.6.32bn ($123.26m), covering a distance of 237.578km.

The Punjab project involves development and operation of Zirakpur – Patiala of NH 64, measuring 50.70km, worth Rs.5bn ($97.63m) with a 14 year concession period.