Going against the tide, when even Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has given up hope on private participation in infrastructure projects, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia on Saturday announced the two-laning of all State highways under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Owing to poor returns from the infrastructure sector due to project delays, private players have refrained from putting money in the sector. The roads and highways sector has been in a financial mess, with private developers opting out of key projects. The sector alone accounts for Rs 2,40,000 crore Non-Performing Assets by banks.

An optimistic Rajasthan Chief Minister, however, said her Government has started floating tenders for inviting works for developing State road network of 20,000 km at the cost of Rs 60,000 crore under the PPP mode.

The CM, who met with private developers and investors in the Capital on Saturday, said she is hopeful that her Government will be able to complete the work in the next five years. “To achieve our goals, the Rajasthan State Assembly passed a Bill on August 1 to constitute Rajasthan State Highway Authority, which will facilitate the construction of 20,000 km of road network in the State in next five years,” she said.

“We need a total investment of at least Rs 60,000 crore in the next five years for the project. The State Government will contribute 20 per cent and another 20 per cent we will get from the Centre. Rest of the money will come from private investors,” she said.

State Public Works Department Minister Yunus Khan, who was also present at the interaction, said this is the first such road law in India which will set an example for other States. “This is one of the most ambitious highways programmes taken up by any State in the country. The new law which will help in making Rajasthan a model State in road development,” said Khan.