IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd has achieved commercial closure for the Amravati-Chikhli and Fagne-Gujarat/Maharashtra border sections of National Highway NH-6 in Maharashtra, India.

The two concession agreement for the road PPP projects were signed on 8 September.

The projects will be developed under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV in build, operate and transfer (BOT - Toll) mode on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (BOT/DBFOT) basis. The two road PPP projects involve:

• Four laning of the 141 km road linking Fagne, Gujarat and Maharashtra Border. The road is s section of NH-6 in the state of Maharashtra from km. 510 to km. 651. The concession for the project will be 19 years including construction period of 910 days and the estimated cost of the road is Rs18.85 billion (US$283.5 million). IL&FS Transportation had quoted a grant of Rs2.45 billion (US$36.8 million) for the project.

• Four laning of the 194 km road linking Amravati and Chikhli. The road is a section of NH-6 in the state of Maharashtra from Km. 166 to Km. 360. The concession for the project will be 19 years including construction period of 910 days and the estimated cost of the road is Rs22.88 billion (US$344.1 million). IL&FS Transportation had quoted a grant of Rs. 1.83 billion (US$27.5 million) for the project.

The main object of these projects is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in the state of Maharashtra and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Amravati-Chikhli and Fagne-Gujarat/ Maharashtra border sectiosn of National Highway NH-6.

Development of these roads will also help uplift the socio-economic condition of this region of the state.