The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has sought an additional 1,000 crore rupees for the current financial year to carry out maintenance and repair of national highways. According Ministry sources, the Finance Ministry has provided over 1,027 crore rupees so far in the current fiscal to the ministry for the job against the estimated requirement of 2,800 crore rupees. Total length of the country's national highways network currently stands at 70,934 kilometres. Sources said that the absence of adequate funds for the timely maintenance of national highways might result in premature rehabilitation at a much higher level of investment. The Road Ministry has been under severe public criticism due to its inability to take up maintenance works on the national highways as per the requirement.