Nitin Gadkari Chairs Workshop to Enhance Urban Connectivity Through Innovative Policies

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently led a workshop focused on innovative policies for constructing ring roads and bypasses to enhance urban connectivity. An official statement highlighted the government's dedication to developing top-tier, sustainable transport infrastructure, particularly aimed at reducing congestion in rapidly expanding urban areas.

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The workshop explored various policy interventions, such as building ring roads and bypasses, to redirect traffic away from city centres. This approach aims to alleviate congestion on urban National Highways. Discussions also included adopting value capture financing models for sustainable funding and aligning infrastructure with city master plans for seamless integration.

Urban Decongestion Policy Focus

The Urban Decongestion Policy targets reducing traffic jams on National Highways in cities with populations over one lakh. It proposes developing access-controlled ring roads, bypasses, and elevated corridors. The policy stresses integrating new highway infrastructure with urban master plans to complement city development and prevent unplanned growth along these corridors.

Additionally, the State Road Development Policy is being crafted to provide central support for upgrading high-traffic state highways to four lanes or more. This policy suggests a cost-sharing framework between the Centre and states, enhanced by public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements to attract private investment.

Proposed Amendments and Enforcement

The ministry has proposed amendments to the National Highways Act, 1956, aiming to simplify land acquisition processes and improve transparency. These amendments include streamlining compensation procedures, strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms, and ensuring broader public communication of notifications.

Furthermore, stricter enforcement of the Control of National Highways Land and Traffic Act, 2002 is emphasised to protect the right of way. Delegating enforcement powers to local authorities like district magistrates will enable quicker action against encroachments and smoother project implementation.

Consultation with State Governments

The consultation sought input from state and UT governments on key policy initiatives under finalisation by the central government. These initiatives are expected to play a significant role in supporting infrastructure development and coordinated urban planning along National Highways across India.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways presented detailed objectives and features of proposed policies. Inputs were also gathered from external ministries, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

The measures discussed are anticipated to not only improve mobility but also promote planned development in areas influenced by ring roads and bypasses. This approach aims to ensure that new infrastructure complements city growth while preventing unplanned expansion along these corridors.

With inputs from PTI