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Raje inaugurates new highway

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje dedicated a 138-km-long road connecting Pachpadra with Ramji Ka Gole in Barmer district over the week-end as part of the mega highway project launched under public-private partnership at a cost of Rs.1,500 crore.

Ms. Raje said the biggest State-level highway project in the country, aiming at the construction of 1,053-km-long roads, would be completed by May next year. The first package of the ambitious project has already been completed with the construction of Pachpadra road at a cost of Rs.141.47 crore.

Ms. Raje pointed out that the technical expertise of private sector available during the project’s implementation would ensure a significant saving on the maintenance of roads. The 292-km-long first package, passing through Jodhpur and Barmer, is expected to encourage textile industry of Balotra, salt industry of Phalodi and Pachpadra and stone industry of Balesar.

The new route will reduce a distance of 120 km for vehicles travelling from northern States such as Punjab and Haryana to Kandla. Ms. Raje said it would also prove useful for transport of petroleum products in Barmer and Sanchore region and promote tourism and facilitate journey of pilgrims to local temples.

The Chief Minister said all remote villages in the State were being connected with new roads, while Rs.4,500 crore had been spent on strengthening the road network during the past four years. PWD Minister Rajendra Rathore said the rural connectivity in the State had increased from 52 per cent to 71 per cent with the construction of roads measuring a total of 25,466 km.

Ms. Raje disbursed loans worth Rs.37 lakh through cheques to 51 women’s self-help groups on the occasion. She also distributed some musical instruments to local artistes.

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