Govt set to give big push to Rs 50,000-cr worth of stalled highway projects
In a move which will give a massive push to stalled highway projects worth Rs. 50,000 crore, the Union Government has reached a decision on Tuesday with regard to giving forest and mining clearances for road projects.
According to the details shared by Government officials, the move will benefit a number of big ticket road projects. Some of these projects include the Rs. 2,848 crore six-laning of the Varanasi-Aurangabad stretch; the work on Rs. 2,388 crore Beawar-Pali-Pindwara stretch; the Rs. 2,016 crore six-laning of Dhankuni-Kharagpur stretch in West Bengal; and Rs. 1,008 crore four-laning of the Sambalpur-Baragarh stretch in Orissa.
For the fast implementation of projects, it was decided at a recent inter-ministerial meeting – chaired by Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari – that the Union Government will give the State governments the ability to approve mining of sand from dry river-beds spread up to 20 hectares. Presently, this limit is five hectares; and, for approval beyond that, projects require clearance by the Centre.
A government official who was present at the meeting has revealed that one of the key proposals deliberated at the meeting was to empower states to clear highway projects spread in forest areas of up to 40 hectare.
The official also said: “Till now such projects had to be cleared by the Centre which more often than not resulted in delays. So far, 80% projects belonged to this category.”
Source – Hindustan Times
