Over 700 Wayside Amenities on National Highways Expected by FY29: Nitin Gadkari
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Synopsis
The government has announced that over 700 wayside amenities will be established along national highways by FY29, enhancing facilities for travelers and promoting local economies.
Key Takeaways
- Establishment of over 700 WSAs expected by FY29.
- Facilities include fuel, charging stations, and toilets.
- 501 WSAs awarded; 94 operational.
- WSAs to be developed every 40-60 km.
- Emphasis on local artisan support and employment.
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The government announced on Wednesday that the establishment of over 700 wayside amenities (WSAs) along national highways is anticipated to be finalized by the fiscal year 2028-2029.
These amenities will include essential services such as fuel stations, electric vehicle charging stations, toilets, drinking water, parking, and restaurants or dhabas.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, stated in the Rajya Sabha that a total of 501 WSAs have been awarded so far on national highways and expressways.
According to the minister, 94 WSAs are currently operational.
The government, through the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), aims to develop these amenities approximately every 40-60 kilometers.
“A digital feedback system has been implemented at WSAs to allow users to provide digital input for quality monitoring,” the ministry stated.
WSAs are managed by operators chosen through a private bidding process.
Furthermore, to foster employment and support local artisans, specific areas have been designated for Kiosks as part of the essential facilities in dedicated zones, as per the ministry.
To encourage local produce, village 'haats' have been included as permissible facilities through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
In addition, to uphold the extensive National Highway (NH) network, the government has sanctioned short-term maintenance contract (STMC) projects covering 17,884 km at a cost of Rs 2,842 crore, and performance-based maintenance contract (PBMC) works over 6,118 km at a cost of Rs 6,757 crore for the current fiscal year (FY25), the government reported last month.
Currently, 1,310 NH projects extending over 31,187 km and costing Rs 8.11 lakh crore are under construction nationwide. STMC projects typically last for 1-2 years, while PBMC projects are generally undertaken for around 5-7 years.
Moreover, the government is installing the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) on national highways that have four or more lanes.
