Source: The Economic Times, Mar 12, 2013

NEW DELHI: Union Road Transport Minister CP Joshi held a review meeting on Monday to discuss the appalling performance in the highway sector in 2012-13, but sought to focus on one target the ministry might be able to meet – construction of 3,000 km of highways under contracts awarded in the past.

This year, contracts for developing just 879 kilometer (km) of highways have been awarded as opposed to the original target of 8,800 km and the record performance of 2011-12 when contracts for 6,644 km were awarded. This year’s performance is only a tad better than the award of contracts for 643 km in 2008-09-which was the worst year for new highway projects since the UPA came to power in 2004.