NHAI signs 2 MoUs in Lucknow to enhance highway infrastructure

New Delhi: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) holds a two-day regional conference in Lucknow with NHAI officials and other regional stakeholders from Uttar Pradesh East & West, Uttarakhand and Bihar as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebration. During the conference, NHAI signed two significant MoUs that will contribute to enhancing national highway infrastructure and will contribute to sustaining the environment in Uttar Pradesh and other states. On the occasion Minister of State for Road and Highways Gen VK Singh, NHAI's Chairperson Alka Upadhyaya and Manoj Kumar Singh, ACS, Govt of Uttar Pradesh were present.

A first of its kind MoU was signed between NHAI and State Rural Livelihood Mission, Uttar Pradesh to involve the self-help groups in taking up the plantations along the National Highways. The initiative will also be introduced in other states like Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.

The second MoU was signed between NHAI and AMMANN India Pvt. Ltd. Both entities have collaborated to create a talent pool of highly skilled workforce, fully trained in advanced technologies in Highway construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Singh said "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is a great opportunity for us to unite and realize the vision of creating a 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The vision of a self-reliant nation can only be fulfilled if it has a robust infrastructure and therefore, we have a huge responsibility to create a sustainable Highway Network. I congratulate NHAI for organising this regional conference and bringing all stakeholders onto one platform."

NHAI Chairperson said, "As we celebrate 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', we have expanded our horizons to have greater coordination, facilitate Ease of Doing Business and enable the exchange of technology with all our stakeholders."

"The objective of holding the regional conferences and signing the MOUs is to share technology and talk about things which not only improve pace of construction but also lend more quality and sustainability in our road building process." She added.

During FY 2021-22, NHAI has registered record growth in all fields. During the year, NHAI has awarded projects for a total length of 6,306 km of projects, which is the highest length awarded by the authority in the last three years. The total capital cost of the projects awarded was Rs 2.47 lakh crore. In construction also, NHAI achieved the feat of highest length of projects constructed in a financial year in last three years. In FY 2021-22, NHAI constructed a total length of 4,325 km, which is higher than the 4,218 km in FY 2020-21 and 3,979 in FY 2019-20.

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