Other States - Orissa   

State seeks Rs. 3,000 cr. for strengthening national highways

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government has demanded Rs. 3,000 crore of Central assistance for strengthening national highways in the State. Attending the conference of Highways Ministers in New Delhi recently, State Works Minister A.U. Singh Deo said, “The Centre should make available Rs. 600 crore per annum for next five years for strengthening national highways passing through the states.”

Of the total 3074 km national highway stretch, 1064 km NH comprising 655 km of single lane and 409 km of intermediate lane needed to be developed into two-lane standard, Mr. Singh Deo said at the conference.

According to a press statement released by the works department here on Thursday, laying of two-lane required at least Rs. 2,000 crore while strengthening of existing two-lanes carriages would need Rs. 1,000 crore.

“The Centre should also follow the rehabilitation and resettlement policy formulated by Orissa while taking up the NH development works,” Mr. Singh Deo said.

The Minister was quoted as saying that while the cost of maintenance was increasing the allocation under ordinary repair for the current year had been reduced.

“The allotment for 2007-08 was Rs. 13.6 crore where as this year in 2008-09, it has been reduced to Rs. 11.85 crore. At least Rs. 36 crore is required for maintenance of highways,” the Minister said.

Similarly, Mr. Singh Deo drew attention of Union Surface Transport Minister T.R. Baalu on NH-60, 215, 200 and golden quadrilateral scheme. NH-60 was getting breached at several points during the monsoon leading to traffic dislocation and floods due to inadequate provision of cross drainage facilities, he said.

The Minister demanded early completion of Bhadrak-Balasore (62.64 km), Sunakhala-Ganjam (51.60 km) and Ganjam-Itchhapur (50.80 km) roads under golden quadrilateral scheme.

The Centre should consider allocation of more funds under the Central Road Funds (CRF), Economic Importance (EI) and Inter State Connectivity (ISC) schemes, he demanded claiming that State’s performance under these schemes was very much encouraging.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Tipsy officials warned
Sahitya Akademi decides to publish Oriya classics
Culture varsity announces new courses
Flash strike likely to hit milk supply
Gastroenteritis claims 28
A nightmare for two-wheeler riders
Kisan Sabha launches campaign on loan waiver
Flood toll in north Orissa mounts to 12
State seeks Rs. 3,000 cr. for strengthening national highways
Normal life is hit as Maoists begin protest week
Lawyers to boycott court
Hundreds of agitated parents gherao BSE office
Top official in vigilance net

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu