The Central Government has approved a proposal put up by Chief Minister Raman Singh to commence four-laning of two key roads of Chhattisgarh.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting of Chief Minister Raman Singh with Union Minister for Transportation, Panchayat and Rural Development Nitin Gadkari held in New Delhi on Friday.
During the meeting, Gadkari informed the Chief Minister that work of four-laning Bilaspur-Raipur and Raipur- Dhamtari routes will start during the next six months.
The Chief Minister made Gadkari aware of the problems being encountered in taking up four-laning work for roads and requested him to take decisions in this context soon.
Singh also handed over a memorandum to the Union Minister in this context.
In the meeting, State PWD Minister Rajesh Munat, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Aman Kumar Singh and Principal Secretary, PWD, RP Mandal were also present.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister requested Gadkari to include two of the newly formed districts of the Chhattisgarh- Balod and Gariaband under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and also requested for approval of an annual capacity building grant.
The Union Minister instructed the officials of Rural Development Department to include Gariaband and Balod districts under BRGF and benefit the districts under all the schemes concerned.
While discussing road traffic system of Chhattisgarh, Singh informed Gadkari that in order to deal with insurgency problem in Bastar region, it was necessary to connect the region with other parts of the country from all sides with quality roads.
He informed the Union Minister that construction of highways from Raipur to Jagdalpur and Jagdalpur to Konta-Sukma and Jagdalpur to Bhopalpattnam are required, and administrative approval is needed for the same.
Singh said that the proposed highways will prove beneficial for internal security of the country and also for eradication of socio-economic problems encountered in Bastar region. The Union Minister assured the Chief Minister that special efforts would be made to approve all the road construction works for Bastar Region.
Gadkari also directed the officials of the Transport Ministry to deliberate on the changes required in various parameters so that construction of roads in Bastar region is not obstructed.
During the meeting, the Union Minister said that any contractor, found negligent towards construction and maintenance works, shall not be spared.
He directed the officials concerned to take stern action against such contractors.
The Chief Minister requested that the flow of multiple funds from different departments for ‘Nirmal Bharat Yojana’ should be replaced by one lump sum integrated fund.
The Union Minister informed that his Ministry is taking necessary steps in the direction and soon instructions will be issued in this context. On the demand of the Chief Minister, Gadkari also issued directives to approve 2500 solar pumps for rural areas of Chhattisgarh under Central Government’s new scheme.