The Centre has asked the states to play an effective role for completion of road infrastructure projects in the country. Briefing reporters at the end of the day-long conference on Public Private Partnership in National Highways in New Delhi on Monday, the Road Transport and Highways Minister Dr. C. P. Joshi said states will get 20 per cent of the budget grant fund for the projects for their involvement and timely completion of these projects.

Mr Joshi said that 16,000 kilometers of highways have been completed so far and another 15,000 are in different stages of completion.

Earlier inaugurating the conference, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said the investment in this sector will rise to about one trillion dollars. He said this is necessary to achieve the target of 9 per cent growth during the 12th five year plan. The Prime Minister also called for complete transparency in the awarding of highway projects to eliminate the possibility of favoritism or crony capitalism.