The government is considering setting up a directorate of road safety and traffic management under the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways.

“In its commitment towards greater road safety, the government is considering setting up a Directorate of road safety and traffic management as well as a dedicated road safety fund,” advisor to the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman, Mr Gajendra Haldea said at the CII India Infrastructure Investment Forum on Monday.“Though there has been a greater role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in the roads and highways sector, there is immense potential to be tapped,” he said.

At present, national highways comprise of 65,569 km, which is just 2% of the total road network in the country. Only 12% of this is four-laned. “About $50 billion is to be invested for the development of 40,000 km of national highways by 2012,” Mr Haldea said.

To attract more private investment flows, the government has also decided to award larger stretches of at least 100 km in private contracts.

There has to be a greater capacity increase in the port sector, Mr Haldea said. “The port sector requires deeper drafts, better rail and road connectivity and more berths,” he said. Mr Haldea also hinted at simplified customs procedures at the ports.The government has lined up 54 berth projects to be developed through PPP by 2012. This would require an investment of $640 million. Over the next five years, the port sector will witness an investment of $12 billion.

“There is a requirement of 350 billion dollars in the sector during the 11th Plan,” he said. “We have already established the India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd and hope to attract more private sector investment,” he added.

Mr Haldea said that the need of the hour was not only to study where investment can be made, but how sustainable and commercially viable they will be.