Two-laning of nine roads under National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is underway in four districts of eastern Chhattisgarh at a cost of Rs 4,317 crores, PWD Minister Rajesh Munat informed.

The two laning work had been taken up for roads measuring a total of 586 kms in Raigarh, Surguja, Korba and Jashpur districts, he  informed.

Notably, a sum of Rs 1897 crore have been allocated for the construction of National Highways during the last three years in Chhattisgarh under head National Highway (Original) and National Highway Development Program – IV, the Central Government has informed.

There are 18 numbers of National Highways passing through Chhattisgarh, it informed.

A length of 378 km four-lane National Highway have been completed in the State.

Out of total 2,032 kms, National Highways had been declared in-principle in Chhattisgarh and stretches will be taken up for development depending upon inter-se priority and availability of funds.

  Nationally, about 20,557 km of National Highways are under DPR preparation as on  June 30 in the current financial year, the Government informed.

Notably, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and  Highways allocated Rs 1,533.68 crores to Chhattisgarh for development of national highways during the current financial year, the Government has informed.

A total of Rs 895.63 crore had already been spent so far for development of national highways in the State, it informed.

During the last financial year, a total ofRs 359.94 crore was allocated out of which Rs 339.80 crore was spent for the development of national highways in Chhattisgarh.

It may be recalled that Chhattisgarh had been already inviting private investors to set up manufacturing clusters for taking advantage of five sea ports within its 600 km reach from the State.

With five ports Paradip and Dhamra in Odisha, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Machillipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the opportunity of setting up of manufacturing clusters in Chhattisgarh is immense, officials informed.

The Chhattisgarh Government in 2015-16 had informed that it had adopted Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for development of roads and expects capital investment of nearly Rs 10,000 crore.

A total of 12 roads have been marked under Chhattisgarh State Road Development Project, out of which work on developing six roads has already been started, officials stated.

In 2015-16, 3,724 kms of roads were built and upgraded and construction of 41 bridges has been completed. Construction of 123 bridges is in progress, officials had informed.

It may be recalled that the Centre had also approved as many as three new National Highway projects in Chhattisgarh during the past three financial years.

 The cumulative cost of the highway projects stood at Rs 150.37 crores, officials stated.

 The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had approved Rs 3,300 crore for broadening and upgradation of the National Highways in Chhattisgarh in 2015-16.

 Notably in July 2015, the Central Government had also announced that it would award contracts for three key road projects in Chhattisgarh measuring 149 kms to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,522 crores this year, officials stated.

It had targetted to award 273 road projects in the country covering a length of approximately 12,900 km amounting to  about Rs 1,26,700 crore during 2015-16 under various schemes of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, officials had stated.

The Central Government had also sanctioned an amount of Rs 305.56 crore for 10 important works under Central Road Fund Scheme during 2015-16 in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.

 These 10 works include construction of one road route, two Railway over-bridges and under-bridges, one fly-over and bridge.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways acquired 115 hectares of land in Chhattisgarh for taking up various national highway projects during 2015-16, the Central Government has informed.

Notably, land for the construction of National Highways in the country is acquired under the provisions of the National Highways (NHs) Act, 1956, and the compensation is determined in consonance with the applicable provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTlARR) Act, 2013.

The NHAI had acquired 66 hectares of land during 2014-15. It had targetted to complete 10,950 km of National Highways during 2015-16 in the country. A total length of 1733 km have been constructed till July 31, 2015.

The Central Government had also sanctioned an amount of Rs 305.56 crore for 10 important works under Central Road Fund Scheme during 2015-16 in Chhattisgarh, officials stated. These 10 works include construction of one road route, two Railway over-bridges and under-bridges, one fly-over and bridge.

PWD Minister Rajesh Munat had stated that these works have been approved by Central Government last year for ensuring smooth traffic movement in busy areas of the State. He said that these 10 approved works include construction of flyover at NH-6 Canal Road in Kashiram Nagar in Raipur at the cost of Rs 46.35 crore, construction of bridge on Hasdeo River at Champa-Korba-Katghora Road at the cost of Rs 29.77 crore, and construction of bridges on Rajnandgaon-Kawardha Road at the cost of Rs 13.70 crore and on Rajnandgaon Arjunda-Gunderdehi Road at the cost of Rs 24.17 crore.

NHAI also has commenced the work of development as well as upgradation of Raipur to Vishakhapatnam stretch of National Highway (NH) under Bharatmala project, officials informed.

Notably, NHAI has awarded the work of preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) from Kurud to Andhra Pradesh/Odisha Border (Ondarangi) comprising local roads, SH-30/49 and NH-26 stretch having length of 359 kms. The work of DPR preparation has commenced on June 6, 2016, officials informed.

On the other hand, notably,  the NHAI had already announced plans of broadening NH – 26 to augment connectivity between Raipur and Vishakhapatnam last year.

The total density of National Highways (NHs) in Chhattisgarh is at 23.4 kms per 1,000 square kms out of the total length of 3,168 kms in the State, the Central Government has informed.

The declaration of State Roads as new NHs are done from time to time keeping in view the requirements of connectivity and availability of funds, it informed.

About 47,890 km length of State Roads have been approved “In-Principle” for their declaration as new NHs in the country subject to outcome of their DPRs.