The Cabinet on Wednesday took a number of significant decisions for infrastructural development of the State. These include construction of roads, power and irrigation projects, creation of new tehsils and sanction of required posts.
The Cabinet accorded administrative sanction of Rs340.62 crore to 3 new irrigation projects. It also gave revised sanction of Rs1,130.50 crore to three other irrigation projects. Among the new irrigation projects, Rs83.33 crore has been sanctioned for Mohgaon minor irrigation project in Chhindwara district, Rs174.55 crore for Datooni medium irrigation project in Dewas and Rs82.74 crore for Tarped medium irrigation project in Chhatarpur district.
It accorded revised sanction of Rs64.17 crore to Bagharru medium irrigation project in Vidisha district, Rs590.75 crore for Mahi major irrigation project in Dhar district and Rs475.58 crore for Rajiv Sagar (Bawanthadi) major irrigation project in Balaghat district.
Budhni-Kahtegaon road to be constructed under OMT mode
The Cabinet sanctioned Rs473.71 crore for construction of 206.62 kilometer of roads under BOT (toll+annuity) scheme through Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. These include Ujjain-Simhastha Bypass, Damoh-Katni Road and Tikamgarh (Dhajrai)-Jatara-Palera-Naugaon Road.
Construction of these roads would be completed in two-and-a-half years. Besides, it was also decided to construct Budhni-Rehti-Nasrullahgang-Khategaon Road under OMT mode.
A total of Rs 5.5 crore would be spent on construction of this 87.94-kilometer road.
The Cabinet sanctioned construction of 14.29-kilometer Ujjain-Simhastha Road at a cost of Rs 94.30 crore under BOT (toll+annunity) scheme. Under it, toll collection rights would be given to private investors and payment of 6 months' annuity would also be made.
This is a unique scheme in the country. Concession period of the project is 15 years, including the period of construction. Annuity amount would be fixed on tender basis. Private investors would have to construct the road as per prescribed norms and maintain it throughout the concession period. This would ensure quality road for a longer period. Distance-based toll rates would be imposed on the road. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, tractor-trolleys and local transport would be exempted from toll.
It was also decided to construct Damoh-Katni Road on Highway number 14 on the same basis. Rupees 272.07 crore would be spent on this 117.93-kilometer road. Similarly, Tikamgarh Dhajrai-Jatara-Palera-Naugaon Road, measuring about 76.40 km would be constructed at a cost of Rs 107.34 crore under BOT (toll+annuity) scheme.
Three new tehsils
The Cabinet decided to accord tehsil status to Simariya in Panna district, Bahri in Sidhi and Pathari in Vidisha district. Necessary staff for these tahsils have also been sanctioned. Each tehsil would have a tehsildar, a naib tehsildar, 5 grade 3 assistants and 6 peons/ process servers.
It was decided to declare 2 new Holy areas in the state. These include Chhidawa Ghat (Seedhi ghat), Satdhara ghat and Deepa Ka Mandir under Barman revenue inspection circle in Kareli tehsil of Narsinghpur district and Gwarighat in Jabalpur district.
Other significant decisions
The Cabinet sanctioned creation of 10 posts of professor, 4 of lecturer and 546 hospital and non-teaching posts for Government Ayurvedic Colleges at Bhopal, Gwalior, Ujjain and Rewa