UNVEILING THE AGENDA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rising to speak at a function got up in Salem on Saturday for laying the foundation for the four-laning of the Salem-Chengapalli section of NH-47. Looking on are Union Minister for Shipping, Road Tr ansport and Highways T.R. Baalu and Minister of State G.K. Vasan. — Photo: K. Ananthan

SALEM: To achieve a growth of 7-8 per cent, the country needs greater investment in infrastructure, such as roads, ports, telephones, airports, railways and power, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.

"Good and world-class infrastructure help the trade and industry. Hence, the importance of such projects," he said, laying the foundation for the four-laning of the Salem-Chengapalli section of National Highway 47 here on Saturday evening. Governor Surjit Singh Barnala was present.

Dr. Singh said his Government had an ambitious programme of Rs.1,70,000 crore for expanding and improving the road network. An improved road connectivity would be "creating new possibilities for boosting economic growth, employment generation and reduction of poverty," besides helping farmers take their produce to market.

He said National Highways were being four-laned and six-laned across the country, and most of the projects would be taken up through public-private partnership.

"In the last one year, we have awarded contracts for nearly 5,500 km of new roads. This is the highest ever since the start of the National Highways Development Project."

Expressing his happiness that Tamil Nadu was the major beneficiary, he said that of 4200 km of National Highways in the State, 3250 km had been approved for four-laning.

These projects, when completed, would give a boost to the State's economy and its industrial and agricultural sectors and encourage tourism and trade.

Recognising the long pending needs of the people of Salem, the Prime Minister said, he was considering the expansion of the Salem Steel Plant to make it an integrated one.

He also pointed to the Government's announcement on the formation of Salem Railway Division, the imposition of the Safeguard duty on starch imports that "saved lakhs of tapiaco farmers" and the removal of CENVAT that "helped the textile industry immensely."

Presiding, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T. R. Baalu said the Prime Minister had inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth Rs. 6,500 crores in Tamil Nadu on a single day.

Those who attended the function included Union Ministers of State G. K. Vasan, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan and K.H. Muniyappa and PMK founder S. Ramadoss, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI(M) leader N. Varadarajan and CPI leader T. Pandian and MPs K.M. Kader Mohaideen and K.V.Thankgabalu.

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