Raj govt announces slew of measures for road development

Rajasthan government announced a slew of measures for road and infrastructure development, including road connectivity to 2,056 revenue villages, separate road for mining vehicles in mining areas, in the Assembly today.
Speaking during the discussion on the demands for grants for public works department and roads and flyovers, the Rajasthan Public Works Minister Yunus Khan laid emphasis on infrastructure development through PPP model saying it was necessary to take the state on the path of development.
He said Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had in the state budget announced the laying of 20,000 km of state highways and roads after proper planning and discussing all the aspects, and informed that the work would be completed by 2017 in 27 packages.

The minister said only one per cent of the total present population of the state, who have vehicles, have to pay toll.
Expressing concern over deaths in road accidents, Khan informed the House that the department with the help of police has identified 500 critical accident prone points which will be revised and improved to curb accidents.
He also said that the department will reach out to all the Panchayats to create awareness about safe driving.

Referring to the demand from Rajsamand MLA Kiran Maheshwari, Khan said that separate roads would be made in mining areas so that other roads are not damaged due to movement of mining vehicles and trucks with heavy loads.

He also announced initiatives to develop and improve road infrastructure connecting religious places like Ramdevra (Jaisalmer), Beneshwar Dham (Dungarpur), Mukam (Bikaner) and Mitheshah Dargah (Jhalawar).
The minister also accused the previous state government led by Congress's Ashok Gehlot of neglecting the road sector and said several projects announced by them could not even start.
After the discussion and the minister's reply, the demands were passed by voice vote following which the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.