Punjab Dy CM calls on Gadkari over roads, highways projects

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today assured Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of approval, upgradation and construction of various national highways and other roads in the state at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.
Badal had called on Gadkari here today to discuss pendency of road projects vis-a-vis pending wildlife clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forest.
The Minister promised to initiate pending road projects after a meeting with senior officers and NHAI at the earliest, a statement issued by the Punjab Government said.
Badal informed that NHAI has finalized the DPR for six-laning with alignment starting from Sector-39 junction in Chandigarh following NH-21 and NH-95 upto Samrala Chowk in Ludhiana under the BOT mode but yet to obtain necessary forest, environment and wildlife clearances for the project that would consume enough time.

Moreover, he apprised the Minister that bidding of project on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model was only wastage of time as bidders were not participating in such projects.
Badal emphasized that it would be better if this project is also allowed on EPC mode instead of BOT as this would advance the project by at least six months, the statement said.

During the meeting held here, the Union Minister assured to give green signal for the project within this month.
Badal also requested the Minister that Phagwara- Rupnagar National Highway road should also be considered for four-laning under NHDP for facilitating the commuting traffic, fostering agricultural development and providing high speed link to state capital.

He informed the minister that traffic on this road has increased many fold and average annual daily traffic was nearly 20,000 PCUs.
Further, with the upcoming of International Airport at SAS Nagar, traffic on this road is expected to increase further. After hearing the demands put forth by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister patiently, Gadkari assured that Union Ministry would clear the projects at the earliest.