The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has laid the foundation for anexpress highway project to provide a six-lane highspeed corridor across the country.

The proposed seven-thousand-kilometre expressway is estimated to cost about six and a half billion dollars.

Speaking at the foundation ceremony in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, Mr.Vajpayee said the government would seek foreign and private investment for the project which he said should be completed within ten years.