Cabinet approves over Rs.3,000 crore-worth highway projects

The government Wednesday approved upgrading of two highway projects under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) with a total outlay of Rs.3,018.91 crore.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) approved the development of the Aurangabad-Yedeshi section of National Highway (NH) 211 and the Sangrur-Haryana border section of NH 71.

The Aurangabad-Yedeshi section in Maharashtra, with a total length of 190 km, will be developed as a four-lane road on a build, operate and transfer (BOT-Annuity) basis. It will cost Rs.2,406.63 crore.

"This (Aurangabad-Yedeshi section) stretch is a link between NH-3 and NH-4 in Maharashtra and shall be giving feeder traffic to 'Yedeshi-Solapur' meeting golden quadrilateral NH-4 at Solapur city," the CCEA said in a statement.

According to the CCEA, the Sangrur-Haryana border section of NH 71 in Punjab will be developed under NHDP Phase-IV on a build, operate and transfer (BOT-Annuity) through design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) pattern.

The section will be developed as a four-lane road with a total length of 57 km and will cost Rs.612.28 crore.

"The main townships on the project highway are Sangrur, Patran and Khanauri," the statement added.