Prime Minister inaugurates NH projects worth Rs 15,100 crore

August 31, 2017: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated 12 National Highways projects worth Rs 5610 crore and did Bhoomi Poojan for 11 projects worth Rs 9490 crore in Rajasthan.

Among the projects inaugurated were a 6-Lane Cable Stayed Bridge across river Chambal at Kota. Built at a cost of Rs 278 crore, this bridge marks the completion of the East-West corridor. The construction of the bridge was stuck since 2006. This bridge will now enable heavy vehicles to bypass Kota city, thus bringing down pollution and traffic congestion. The bridge design is also friendly for wildlife, ensuring minimum noise pollution for them.

The other projects that were inaugurated include 4 laning of Gomati Chauraha - Udaipur section of NH-8 at a cost of Rs1129 crore, 4-laning of Rajsamand-Bhilwara section of NH-758 at Rs 1360 crore, Nagaur Bypass to Netra village on NH-65 at a cost of Rs 301 crore and 48 road safety projects at a cost of Rs 381 crore.

The 11 projects for which Prime Minister did the Bhoomi Poojan include 4-Laning of Bar-Bilara-Jodhpur section of NH-112 at Rs 1249 crore, 6-Laning of Kishangarh-Gulabpura section of NH-79A and 79 – Rs 1184 crore, 6-Laning of Gulabpura-end of Chittorgarh section of NH-79 – Rs 1378 crore, 6-Laning of Chittorgarh to Udaipur section of NH-76 – Rs 1223 crore, 6-Laning of new Udaipur Bypass on NH-8 – Rs 726 crore, 6-Laning from Udaipur to Rajasthan / Gujarat Border section of NH-8 – Rs 1616 crore, Jaipur Ring Road – Rs 1668 crore, 2-Lane paved shoulders section of Balotra to Sanderao (Pkg - II) of NH-325 – Rs 178 crore,2-Lane paved shoulders section of Balotra to Sanderao (Pkg - III) of NH-325 – Rs 164 crore, 4-Lane CC road with safety imp. in Jhalawar city of NH-12 – Rs 80 crore, 2-Lane ROB and its approaches on NH-709 ext. near Sadulpur Rly. Stn. – Rs 24 crore.

Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister expressed happiness that his government had managed to complete highways projects in the state that had been pending for years together. Stressing upon the role of infrastructure for development, he said these highways will help farmers, give a boost to tourism and open up economic opportunities for the local people.

Meanwhile Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways announced that the centre plans to spend Rs 2 lakh crore in the next 5 years for building National Highways in Rajasthan. Gadkari pointed out that the state of Rajasthan had just 7498 km of National Highways till June 2014. This length has nearly doubled to 14465 km in the last three years under the present government. The number of NH in the state have gone up from just 35 in June 2014 to 85 at present.

Gadkari further informed that National Highways construction work worth Rs 10, 430 crore have been completed in Rajasthan since 2014. This includes 44 large projects totalling 1938 km length. The prominent projects include 4 laning of 244 km Beawar- Pali-Pindwara section of NH 14, 4 laning of 88 km Deoli- Kota section of NH 12, 4 laning of Gomti- Udaipur section of NH 8 , 4 laning of Rajsamand - Bhilwara section of NH 758 and six laning of Kishangarh- Ajmer- Beawar section of NH 8.

Shri Gadkari announced that further NH work worth Rs 50,000 crore would be completed very soon . This includes 132 km Jaisalmer - Barmer section of NH 15 by November 2017, 107 km Barmer-Sachaur section on same highway by February 2018 and 204 km Uniyara- Gulabpur section of NH148 (D) and 160 km Bikaner-Falaudi section of NH 15 by April 2018. He further said that DPR for the highway from Swarupganj- Dungarpur- Banswara to MP border on NH 927( A) was ready. He also said that the work on six lane Delhi-Jaipur highway is 90 percent complete and work on Falaudi- Jaisalmer section on NH 15 is proceeding fast. A 195 km greenfield expressway will also come up between Delhi and Jaipur. This will start from Kherki Daula in Gurgaon, connect with Dwarka Expressway, then, going via Pataudi, it will connect with NH 8 at Chandwaji near Jaipur. Feasibility study for this project is being done.