In order to address the concerns of private investors on the loss of revenue due to absence of any control on access, Baalu said more emphasis should be given on the development of expressways with control on access, which would also provide the desired level of mobility for increased economic activity.

Under the NHDP, the NHAI has awarded 78 contracts aggregating to a length of around 4,500 km at a cost of Rs 30,000 crore. So far, 16 projects aggregating a length of 902 km at a cost of Rs 5,242 crore have been completed.

During the financial year 2007-08, under the NHDP Phase-V (six-laning of National Highways), a length of 2,995 km at a cost of Rs 18,988 crores are to be awarded on the PPP basis. Similarly, under the NHDP Phase-III (four/six-laning of National Highways), 3,278 km of roads at a cost of Rs 21,373 crore are to be awarded on the PPP basis

In the Central sector, from the NHDP Phase-III onward, the implementation of road projects will be mainly through the PPP either on BOT (toll) or on BOT (annuity) and the EPC in exceptional cases, for strategic roads and roads in the Northeast especially.