November 08, 2001

‘25’

    The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Road Transport and Highways, Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri, AVSM (Retd.) has congratulated the people of Uttaranchal on the occasion of first anniversary of the formation of the State. He said that the Centre and the Govt. of Uttaranchal have worked hard during the last year to carry out large-scale developmental activity in the State. In this context, he said that there has been a special focus on the development and improvement of the road network in Uttaranchal.

    Maj. Gen. Khanduri informed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken the following initiatives for road development in Uttaranchal:

• All the four Dhams of Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnathji and Badrinathji are connected by National Highways.
• Three road stretches in Uttaranchal have been declared as National Highways. These are NH No.72A (Chhutmalpur to Dehradun), NH No.108 (Dharasu bend to Gangotri) and NH No.109 (Rudraprayag to Gaurikund).
• For National Highways in Uttaranchal, a total allocation of Rs.265 crore has been made for the current year. This amount includes the already sanctioned 24.15 crore for strengthening of National Highways falling within the State of Uttaranchal. It also includes the double laning of the Rishikesh-Joshimath-Badrinath-Mana Section of NH No. 58.
• A total of twenty works have been sanctioned in Uttaranchal State at an estimated cost of Rs.71 Crore under the Central Road Fund, Inter-State Connectivity and Economic Importance Schemes.
• Satpuli-Kotdwar-Nazibabad Road and Haldwani-Kaladhungi-Bazpur-Moradabad Road will be developed under Inter-State Connectivity Scheme.
• Almora-Ghat road will be improved under Economic Importance Scheme.
• Provision of a crane, an ambulance and two portable weighbridges under Road Safety Programme.

    Maj. Gen. Khanduri said that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojana, an amount of Rs. 60 Crore was sanctioned during the last year for development of rural roads in Uttaranchal. Efforts have been made to get it enhanced to over 120 Crore in the current year, he said. A total of Rs.385 crore has been sanctioned for roads in Uttaranchal during the current financial year, he added.

    The Minister stressed that all efforts will be made to increase the pace of development and progress in the State of Uttaranchal.