Govt okays Rs 10k cr highway projects in three states

The government today announced approving eight projects, envisaging an expenditure of Rs 10,883.89 crore, in the highways sector.

The projects, approved during the meeting of the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), are located in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Haryana.

"The 28th PPPAC meeting, chaired by Finance Secretary (Ashok Chawla) met on October 16, 2009, and granted approval to eight projects of Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways. These projects are in three states," an official statement said.

The Committee, which was constituted in January 2006 has so far approved 135 projects with a total cost of Rs 1,37,025.62 crore, including 122 highways projects.

"These include national highways (122 projects), ports (nine projects), airports (two projects), tourism infrastructure (one project) and railways (one project)," the statement said.

The eight highways development projects approved by the PPPAC include six in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in Karnataka and Haryana.

The J&K projects include Rs 971 crore scheme for four- laning of Qazigund to Banihal section, Rs 1,987 crore scheme for strengthening and four-laning of Ramban to Banihal section, Rs 986 crore for rehabilitation and strengthening of four-laning of Udhampur to Ramban section.