The Hindu : Front Page : State to seek more funding for NHs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 28, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

State to seek more funding for NHs

Special Correspondent

Vijayakumar to meet Union Surface Transport Minister
Review of public works in Thiruvananthapuram

M. Vijayakumar says

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Public Works M. Vijayakumar said here on Friday that he would meet the Union Minister for Surface Transport next week to press for more funding for the maintenance of national highways (NHs).

Addressing a press conference here after a review of public works in Thiruvananthapuram district, the Minister said resurfacing of the highways would require Rs.330 crore. However, the allocation in the Central budget was only Rs.60 crore.

He said the government would take up the work immediately without awaiting allocations from the Centre. It would spend from its budget and seek reimbursement by the Centre.

Mr. Vijayakumar said the State would submit a rehabilitation package for evictees of the proposed widening and improvement of the National Highways 47 and 17 within a week.

Rehabilitation

The package for rehabilitation of the evictees was being prepared as decided at an all-party meeting. The meeting had agreed to the proposal for widening of national highways to 45 metres.

He said estimates were ready for the maintenance of State and major district roads at a cost of Rs.365 crore. The administrative sanction for the works would be issued soon. Proposals for repair of other district roads would soon come up for Cabinet approval.

He said the government was set to improve the functioning of the Public Works Department, which was known for inefficiency and misuse of funds, through intervention of the people and people's representatives. The toll free calls centres were conceived as interface between officials and the public.

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

Front Page