The Public Works Department (PWD) is constructing 19 new bypass roads at a cost of Rs 242 crore to minimize traffic pressure of city roads across the State.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat informed that one of the project among the 19 bypass roads is the 8-km long ‘Kondagaon bypass road’ in Bastar for which Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned.
likewise, Rs 17 crores have been sanctioned for 24-km long Jagdalpur bypass number 2, Rs 11 crore for 11-km long Balod bypass road, Rs 17 crore for 8km-long Tilda-Neora bypass road, Rs 10 crore for 10-km long Nandini city bypass road, Rs 12 crore for 6-km long Ahiwara bypass road, Rs 13 crore for 5-km long Kota bypass road, Rs 5 crore for 5km-long Pandarita bypass road, Rs 18 crore for 14km-long Pendra bypass road, Rs 10 crore for 10-km long Bhatapara bypass road, Rs 22 crore for 11 km long lormi bypass road, Rs 13 crore for 10-km long Masturi Seepat bypass road and Rs 17 crore has been sanctioned for 8km-long Shivrinarayan bypass road.
Besides, Rs 7 crores have been sanctioned for construction of 2.5km-long Akaltara bypass road, Rs 10 crore for 10km-long Balrampur bypass road, Rs 14 crore for 7km-long Wadrafnagar bypass road, Rs 6 crore for 3.5km-long Sarbahara bypass road, and Rs 10 crore for construction of 6.6km-long Baloda bypass road has been sanctioned.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh government made a provision of Rs 53 crore in its annual budget during 2015-16 for development of a total of 19 bypass roads for facilitating safe and smooth traffic in various cities and towns of the State.
The bypass roads would be developed in Kondagaon, Jagdalpur, Tilda-Nivra, Nandini City, Ahiwara, Kota, Pandariya, Pendra, Bhatapara, lormi, Masturi-Sipat, Shivrinarayan, Akaltara, Berla, Balrampur, Wadrafnagar, Sarbahra and sipat-baloda.
Moreover, it may be recalled that about 450 city buses will start plying in 70 big and small cities of Chhattisgarh soon.
A total of 21 key cities and 49 link towns have been included for the launch of the bus service.
Notably, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand had chaired the meeting of the senior officers on January 20, 2015 at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur where it was informed that the tendering process for the purchase of buses have also been completed.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Raman Singh chaired a Cabinet meeting on January 16 the same year in which it was decided to link Raipur to Abhanpur, Rajim, Mandirhasud, and Arang to Mantralaya, and the nearby towns of headquarters Dhamtari,Kabirdham,Jashpur,Kanker,Gariaband, Balod and Mahasamund.
In June 2014, the State Government had constituted nine Public Transport Societies (PTS) for operation of city bus services in nine major cities and towns.
Funds to the tune of Rs 1.60 crore have been allocated to these societies for the purpose.
According to official sources, the societies have been constituted for Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Chirmiri and Jagdalpur.
Notably, the State government has also created ‘Urban Traffic Fund’ and the management of the same will be in the hands of respective PTS. The money in the fund will be provided from the interest received by concerned Municipal Corporation on the funds received for development works.
Raipur received a fund of Rs 20 lakh, Durg-Bhilai Rs 25 lakh, Bilaspur Rs 20 lakh while Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Chirmiri and Jagdalpur have been allocated Rs 15 lakh each.
The Government has issued directives for opening accounts in the listed nationalised banks in the name of respective PTS for ‘Urban Traffic Fund.’
From the funds, expenses like stationary, electricity, telephone expenses etc will be met. However, the salary of the officers and employees were to be paid by the concerned Municipal Corporation.
For utilisation of income generated through the service, separate instructions will be issued by UAD in this regard.
This apart, the Chhattisgarh Government has floated ‘Naya Raipur Mass Transport Company’ for ensuring proper management of public transport system in the State’s new administrative capital, officials said.
The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) has also formed a Board of Directors for the new company.
Naya Raipur would have 10 bus shelters and a depot. A total of 40 premium and 10 mini buses are being purchased under BRTS. The buses would be operated with a automated mechanism and ticket services would be offered in line with the metros.
PWD is currently involved in construction of 14 key roads involving a total cost of Rs 405 crores in Chhattisgarh.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat informed that nearly 300-kms long roads are being constructed to link forest areas and remote villages of the State with road network.
He directed the officials to strictly comply with the quality standards for the road construction work.
Munat informed that upgrading of one of these roads i.e. the road from Amarpur of Manendragarh to Chirmiri is in progress. A sum of Rs 21.78 crore has been sanctioned for this 16-km-long road.
likewise, 30-km-long road from Kotadol to Janakpur is being upgraded at the cost of Rs 32 crore 49 lakh. Besides, widening of 45-km-long lailunga-Kotwa-lawakera road is being done at the cost of Rs 45 crore 12 lakh, concretisation of 7.5km-long-road from Old Khamtarai ROB (Raipur) to Bhanpuri Chowk is being done at the cost of Rs 71 crore 94 lakh, and widening of 28-km-long road from Chhatauna, Kutesar, Badgaon, Kunda, to lakhauli (Raipur) is in progress at the cost of Rs 35 crore 9 lakh.
Similarly, 4.30 km long road from MMI Hospital to Anand Nagar in Raipur city is being constructed at the cost of Rs 41 crore 20 lakh. Widening and tarring of 23-km-long Seepat-Beltara Road at the cost of Rs 15 crore 76 lakh, widening and tarring of 15-km-long Seepat-Baloda-Korba road at the cost of Rs 24 crore 46 lakh, and construction of 19-km-long Takhatpur-Khapri Beeja Kargi Road at the cost of Rs 20 crore 43 lakh is also in progress. It further includes widening of 31-km-long Durg-Dhamdha-Bemetara Road at the cost of Rs 17 crore 96 lakh, and widening of 11-km long Dhamdha-Gandai highway number 21 in Saja at the cost of Rs 15 crore 45 lakh.
In this way, 19.52-km-long in Bhilauni-Chakravai-Badanara of Bemetara district is being constructed at the cost of Rs 13 crore 59 lakh. Renovation of 16-km-long Bodla-Mohgaon-Pratappur-Kawardha Road in Kabeerdham (Kawardha) district is being done at the cost of Rs 21 crore 9 lakh. Besides, construction of 17-km-long Suregaon-Arjunda Road in Pasaud of Balod district is in progress, at the cost of Rs 28 crore 18 lakh.