Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mahadeo Singh Khandela has assured Rajasthan of adequate funds for improving the road network in the State.
“Infrastructure development is the thrust area of the United Progressive Alliance Government and paucity of funds would not come in the way of construction of roads and bridges,” he asserted. Mr. Khandela was reviewing the progress of construction of highways in Rajasthan which includes six-laning of the Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur section of National Highway No.8.
Mr. Khandela, who held talks here with Rajasthan Public Works Department Minister Pramod Jain Baya, senior officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways Authority of India and other officials of the State as well as private partners, noted that Rajasthan has 1,321 km of highways under construction in the current year which is the highest in the country in terms of length.
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The status of the East-West and North-South corridors passing through Rajasthan and the remaining work on National Highway-11 between Jaipur and Mahuwa, Jaipur and Reengas, Reengas and Sikar was reviewed at the meting. The other projects taken up for review included Deoli-Jhalawar (Package I and II).
The Minister said work on six-laning of the Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur section of NH- has started while bidding process is on over some stretches of the highways. The bidding process is also on for six-laning of the Kishengarh-Udaipur stretch of the national highway, he informed.
Feasibility studies are complete in the case of the Deoli-Kota-Jhalawar and Beawar-Pali-Pindwara road projects. Mr. Khandela requested the Rajasthan Government to resolve the issues of land acquisition and clearances from the Forest Department for speedy implementation of the road projects in the State.
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Mr. Khandela said eight projects of linking State highways with national highways in Rajasthan, to be executed at an estimated cost of Rs.5,000 crores, are under consideration of the Centre.