2.5% of road fund to be earmarked for national waterways

New Delhi: A proposal to earmark 2.5 percent of the Central Road Fund (CRF) for the development and maintenance of national waterways has been approved, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_3722963” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Chabahar Port. Reuters[/caption] The Cabinet approval in May will ensure funds for waterways through reduction in the National Highways’ share in the CRF cess, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan said in a written reply. The distribution of CRF for development of rural roads, development and maintenance of National Highways and state roads and those in border areas, as well as railways, are governed by the CRF Act, 2000. The proposal also seeks to amend the Act accordingly so as to accommodate national waterways.