Online mechanism fast-tracks Rly clearances for Road Ministry.

About 80 rail overbridges have been cleared after the Railways put in place an online approval system, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said at an Assocham event.

Recently, the Railway Ministry had devised an online system that enabled Highway Ministry’s agencies to apply and get clearances to build rail overbridges.

Earlier, approval from Railways to build overbridges was a key reason for delay in implementation of road projects.

'Now, on the contrary, the Railways tell us that your design (the proposed design by a Highways) needs to be improved,' said Gadkari.

Calling for an easy finance regime, Gadkari said infrastructure development is impossible with finance costs hovering at 13 per cent. No where in the world does this happen, he said, adding that not taking decisions on projects cost hundreds of crore. Government officials do not have the word 'time' in their dictionary, said Gadkari, adding that Rs. 300-400 crore is at stake for a day's delay in decision-making.


HBL