Union Surface Transport minister Nitin Gadkari today said highways building through public-private-partnership (PPP) mode is set to take a leap with government planning to launch 100 such projects next year. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari said all problems pertaining to the mode have been addressed and this year seven projects worth Rs 11,500 crore have already been awarded in contrast to a nil last year. The Minister said the government was planning to float tenders for about 18 projects by December.<br/> <br/>Expressing commitment to transform highways network, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do bhoomi pujan for access-controlled Rs 7,000 crore eastern highway project to decongest Delhi soon . He said Delhi- Meerut highway will be developed as a green expressway with 14 lanes on NH-24. Mr Gadkari said the national highways length would be increased to 1.5 lakh km from 1 lakh km at present as it does not match up to the 10 per cent annual growth in vehicles.