MoRTH Allocates Rs 1,500 Crore for NHAI Projects in Northeast

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has allocated and released Rs 1,500 crore to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for projects under the National Highways (Original)-NE scheme during the Financial Year 2024-25. This allocation comes as the current financial year approaches its end on March 31, 2025.

According to a communiqué from MoRTH, the funds have been released under the NH(O)-NE Scheme to the NHAI for National Highway works entrusted to the authority during the current financial year. The expenditure is debitable to the following head under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for the year 2024-25: Capital Outlay on Road & Bridges (Major Head); National Highway (Sub-Major Head); Road Works (Minor Head); Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North Eastern area; Works under Road Wing/State PWDs; and Infrastructural Assets.

The communiqué further stated that the total Budget Estimates (BE) provision under NH(O)-NE for the financial year 2024-25 is Rs 14,830 crore. Out of this amount, Rs 10,905 crore has been allocated, and Rs 3,925 crore is kept as a reserve/balance in the head of account NH(O)-NE-GBS (gross budgetary support).

As per the GBS guidelines, a total of 54 ministries and departments under the central government are mandated to spend at least 10% of their gross budget for the Northeastern states. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking at the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit in Guwahati recently, announced that Rs 80,000 crore will be spent on road infrastructure in Assam.

This significant allocation underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the Northeastern region, aiming to boost economic growth and development.