NHAI identifies 183 sites for setting up wayside amenities along NHs

New Delhi, Jul 29 : The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified around 183 sites for setting up wayside amenities along National Highways as it has now formed a part of major highway improvement projects. According to official information, these identified sites would be developed to provide facilities such as separate parking for cars, buses and trucks, restaurant or food court, low cost dhaba, telephone booth, ATM, fuel station and minor repair shop, rest rooms for short-stay, clean toilets, landscaping, kiosk for sale of miscellaneous sundry items, space for spreading Government welfare programme in a systematic and planned manner. “Out of the 183 identified sites, land for 63 is available with NHAI and bids for 16 sites have been invited with due date of receipt in August, 2017 and bids for the remaining sites are being invited shortly,” the information said. A Project Management Consultant (PMC) has also been appointed to assist in the overall implementation of the project and to engage specialised firms for developing and operating these facilities. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways grants access permission to the retail outlets located along the NHs. As per the licence agreement signed as part of granting such access permission, it was mandatory for retail outlets to provide toilet and drinking water facilities to the users. No separate funds were being allocated for providing such way side amenities on NH. UNI