Government is committed to enhance spending on road infrastructure and proposing to bid 8,000 km of road construction contracts for the current financial year, stated the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Speaking in the sidelines of a national conference on leadership organized by CII, Dr. Ahluwalia said, "In comparison, the government bid out 2,000 km of road construction contracts during the last three years."

Outlining the government's economic policy, he said that open and competitive economy would be promoted but unhealthy completion would be avoided while implementing public private partnership model. Government has set a target to adopt PPP route in 30 percent of the infrastructure spending in the 11th five-year plan.

Ahluwalia added, "Half of our population depends on agriculture. But agriculture contributes to only 17 percent of our GDP. So, if we can improve rural infrastructure, it will increase productivity of land and other linkages."