Union Surface Transport Minister CP Joshi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the 163.5-km Radgoan-Mahulia stretch on NH33. This is part of National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) ambitious plans to develop highways in Jharkhand.
On the occasion, Governor Syed Ahmed said, “Basic services are necessary for economic development of any State and roads are also part of the basic services.”
Road network needs to be developed and expediting this is necessary to increase pace of overall progress, added the Governor. He also stressed on good quality roads and bridges.
Emphasising his seriousness about road construction projects, Ahmed said he had ordered blacklisting of contractors who fail to meet the deadline, along with action against them. He also said action should be taken against officials displaying laxity.
The Governor asked Joshi to issue instructions to NHAI for development of Barhi-Rajauli stretch of NH31, Dhanbad-Purulia-Chandil of NH32, Ranchi-Gumla-Virmitrapur NH23 and Ganga Bridge in Sahebganj. Ahmed also assured him that the State Government will assist NHAI on the projects.
Joshi said, “This would be unique road where toll will be collected electronically, a new for Jharkhand.” Joshi also announced that the Government will start a cashless insurance programme for road accident victims once the road is completed. The programme is currently in pilot phase and provides relief of up to Rs 30,000 to victims.
Joshi announced that the company involved in construction will be asked to undertake corporate social responsibility in the area. He put onus on the Governor and Sahay to decide the nature of responsibility.
Making good use of the opportunity, Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay requested many more projects. Sahay’s list included constructing a Raghunathpur-Chandil bypass to link NH32 to NH33; a bridge on Ganga in Sahebganj and conversion of the stretch between Bootymore and Ranchi-Hazaribagh NH to a four-lane road.
Sahay pointed out, “Many railway crossings make the NH look like a rural road, hence a bypass to link NH32 to NH33 is the need of the hour.”
Thanking Joshi for laying the foundation stone, Chief Secretary RS Sharma said, “The State Government also requests the Minister to start construction work on Mahulia-Bahragora-Kharagpur stretch and convert it to four lanes sooner so the State gets its benefit.”
Advisors to Governor K Vijar Kumar and Madhukar Gupta, NHAI chairman RP Singh and Principal Secretary (Road Construction) Raj Bala Verma were also present.