The Chhattisgarh Government has added another feather in its cap by receiving the Centre’s nod for developing a ‘Smart City’ between Raipur and Naya Raipur on Thursday.
The approval is being considered as a major boost to the State’s ongoing developmental push for taking up a large number of infrastructure projects. Union Minister for Urban Development and Housing, Venkaiya Naidu inked in-principal approval on the proposal tabled by the Chhattisgarh Minister for Public Works and Housing, Rajesh Munat during a meeting held in New Delhi.
Munat also met with Union Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari to discuss various issues related to the transport system in the State.
Munat sought Gadkari’s attention to solve the problems being encountered in construction of the State and National highways in Chhattisgarh particularly in the insurgency infested Bastar region. To this, Gadkari assured Munat of giving priority in construction of the State highways connecting Ambikapur to Bastar and also with Maharashtra border to Odisha border. Gadkari issued required instructions to the officials concerned in this regard and also asked them to conduct a meeting to review the progress after 15 days.
His instructions for making required changes in the policy to discontinue toll-tax, being recovered at Indravati Bridge on Raipur-Jagdalpur Road by the construction company, was icing on the cake for the State Government.
Munat also discussed issues including inviting tenders for Raipur-Bilaspur-Dhamtari Road and sanction
of Rs22 crore for immediate repairing work of Raipur-Bilaspur Road.
Munat urged the Union Minister for giving in-principal approval for converting Dhamtari-Jagdalpur and Bilaspur-Katghora-Ambikapur road into four-lane.
Munat demanded action against a company for recovering toll-tax without completing the assigned work of Raipur-Durg four-lane construction on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT mode).
He also mentioned to convert Raipur-Durg road into six-lane. This apart, Munat asked the Union Minister to include the proposal of developing 136 km road connecting MP border to Ambikapur, with an estimated cost of Rs400 cr, and a 77.6 km road connecting Odisha border to Bardula, with an estimated cost of Rs250 cr, in the Central Government’s annual plans.
Munat also urged Gadkari for soon releasing a fund of Rs5 crore sanctioned for developing a ‘Driving Training and Research Institute’ in Naya Raipur. With a view to ease the work, Gadkari issued directives to divide the big projects proposed in Naxal affected areas into small works.