TN govt to spend Rs 1,900 cr on road devepoment projects

Roads in Tamil Nadu, especially in rural areas, are to be upgraded with an investment of over Rs 1,900 crore. The projects to be funded by the Union Government and with the help of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

After announcing the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department for the year 2009-10 in the state assembly on Monday, Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin said that under Indian Prime Minister Road Development Programme a sum of Rs 1,325 crore has been allocated to the state. The money will be used to develop 5,114 kms of road in the state.

He noted between 2000-01 and 2007-08 Rs 713 crore has been allocated to the state under the programme, whereas for one single year 2008-09 the state government has received Rs 1,325 crore.

The government's announcement also said under The Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, wholly funded by the State Government which emerged as the biggest of all rural development schemes in the state, the government is planning to spend Rs 400 crore to develop 2,822 kms in villages.

In 2006-07 and 2007-08 the government had spent of Rs 825 crore to develop 6,412 kms roads. The development was supported by NABARD.

To develop Thar Roads the government is planning to spend around Rs 178 crore. The money will spent on to carry out patch up and other development works on the existing roads.