Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stones of nine National Highway projects in the State on the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur on Saturday. Total cost of the projects is over Rs4,034 crore. Gadkari said that waterways may be started in State’s major rivers.
Union Minister Gadkari said that now is the time for Madhya Pradesh to get justice. He said that works amounting to Rs13,500 crore will be started by December. Other works to the tune of Rs7,000 crore will also be sanctioned in near future. He said that Rs50,000 crore will be spent on roads and other construction works in the State. Sanctioned works will be completed at the earliest.
Gadkari expressed happiness that Madhya Pradesh Government has given top priority to construction of roads. He said that waterways will by developed in Narmada, Betwa, Kshipra, Ken and other rivers.
The Union Minister lauded the State Government for highest agriculture growth rate in the country and large scale arrangements for irrigation. He said that Union Road Transport Ministry will help Madhya Pradesh to connect villages. For this, cement will be made available at reduced rates. Gadkari sanctioned Rs1,600 crore for CRF’s works as per demand.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that soon the State Government will make efforts for concretising pathways between agriculture fields under Khet Sadak Yojana. No stone will be left unturned to make Madhya Pradesh a model State of the country in respect of roads. Referring to pitiable condition of National Highways during previous regime, he said that soon after assuming charge, Gadkari has got roads repaired without any discrimination.
Chouhan urged Gadkari to assume responsibility of major roads’ construction. The State Government will carry out responsibility to construct roads to connect all Majra-Tolas and villages. The Chief Minister announced that a fertiliser plant will be established near Jabalpur. He said that efforts will be taken to establish Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna, Sidhi and Shahdol Industrial Corridor. The Chief Minister also referred to the schemes aiming at establishing youth as industrialists saying that a network of small and cottage industries will be laid in the State.