Page 16 - TT Mag Jan 2024 Digital edition

ON THE COVER

reat highways need permissions and supervision convenience store, and children’s
great amenities to would lie with the authorities play area. The amenities for
sustain commuter and development, operation and truckers would have dormitories,
traffic on roads. maintenance for 15-30 years dhabas, shops, toilets, drinking
As a part of an would be the responsibility of water, truck parking, self laundry,
Gendeavor to provide the private partner. Minister Nitin cooking facility and vehicle repair
world class infrastructure and Gadkari has invited investors, shop etc.
related services in India, National developers, restaurateurs and The overall layout of the Way Side
Highway Authority of India ‘NHAI’ amenity operators to participate in Amenities would have beautiful
intends to develop highways, the NHAI initiative.
logistic parks, traveller facilities landscaped garden, open sit outs,
open gymnasium, playground,
at self-owned properties and Wayside amenities development
their prestigious projects include along the highways and separate entry and exit gates and
Bharatmala Prayojana, The Golden expressways in India has the also an area for future expansion
Quadrilateral, Wayside Amenities potential to boost tourism and by the authorities. For the safety of
(WSA). These infrastructure improve local economy. Food passengers and truckers it will have
projects in India provide excellent & beverage joints, fuel outlets, 24X7 Security, CCTV surveillance,
opportunities with Public Private medical clinics, garages, motels, high mast lights etc.
Partnerships (PPP) identified dormitories, toilets, parking, Local economy
as the most suitable mode for electric charging stations, public
implementation and funding of conveniences and other commuter Gen. (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh,
most infrastructure projects in friendly services like drive-through Minister of State for Road
the country. Under Bharatmala food pick up points will support Transport and Highways had
Pariyojana project construction of small businesses, create jobs and stated, “All upcoming wayside
34800km of roads and expressways give a big fillip to the local economy. amenities would include “Village
with an outlay of `5,35,500 crore Separate facilities for truck drivers Haat / Bazaar” which will offer
is envisaged. are also planned, and commuters area-specific handicrafts and
will possibly see a drop in road
As of 2023, India’s road fatalities due to fatigue, which will handlooms by local artisans
network became the world’s give them the confidence of stress- besides local food and fruits. The
second largest, after the United free travel with maximum safety. development of these sites will
States. The proposal and mission bring economic development to
for WSA is to provide modern Other than the mandatory the villages along the highways.”
amenities on highways, distributed facilities, a separate section This initiative would also go a long
geographically, to crores of for car passengers will also way in providing employment to
highway commuters / travellers, provide restaurants, rest rooms, local youth, especially farmers in
as a nation building initiative.

Development of WSA has
been entrusted by National
Highway Authority of India to its
subsidiary company/100 % owner
SPV- National Highway Logistics
Management Limited (NHLML).
The initiative is to award more
than 1000 wayside amenities on
prime locations along the lengths
of National Highways at every
50kms so as to make travelling
a more enjoyable experience.
These would be developed on a
lease based PPP model, where
the responsibilty for land limited

16 TrafficInfraTech / January 2024 / www.trafficinfratech.com