Govt approves Rs 3,412-cr road projects

The government today approved three highway projects in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Orissa that entail an investment of Rs 3,412 crore, under its flagship road building programme NHDP.

The projects include Rs 1,114.27 crore scheme in Rajasthan, Rs 828 crore contract in Tamil Nadu and and Rs 1,470 crore award in Orissa.

"The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) approved the investment proposal for the implementation of the four/two laning of Gomati Chauraha-Udaipur section on NH 8 in Rajasthan... Four/two laning of Madurai-Ramanathapuram section on NH 49 in Tamil Nadu and four laning of Chandikhole-Dubari-Talcher section on NH 200 in Orissa," an official statement said.

All these projects will be implemented under various phases of Natinal Highways Development Project (NHDP) under desgin, build, operate, finance and transfer (DBOFT) basis on BOT (Toll) mode, it said.

About the Rajasthan project, the statement said that the 79.31 km stretch will be widened in 30 months and has a concession period of 27 years.

The main object of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in Rajasthan and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic plying between Gomati Chauraha and Udaipur, the statement added.

The Orissa project covering the districts of Angul, Dhenkenal and Jajpur on completion will reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic plying between Chandikhole, Dubari and Talcher and will increase the employment potential for the local labourers for the project activities.