Maharashtra asks Rs 1,100 cr for highway repair

The state has decided to ask for Rs 1,100 crore from the Centre for repairs of national and state highways which were damaged due to heavy rains and floods which lashed the state over last few weeks, minister for public works Chhagan Bhujhal said.

Speaking to reporters Bhujbal said, "In a meeting with senior officials with his ministry on Monday, review of the state of the highways in the state was taken and final shape was given to the proposal to be submitted to the central government for assistance."

In the meanwhile the department is undertaking repair works of national and state highways immediately from its own fund, Bhujbal said.

He said that his department would try to complete the repair of all major national and state highways before Dussehra and all district roads by Diwali. The state has allocated Rs 817 crore for repairs and maintenance of national and state highways in the budget, he added.

Bhujbal added his ministry has taken a decision to concretise and widen the stretch of 26 kilometers between Mankhurd and Kalmboli which will cost around Rs 206 crore, on build, operate and transfer basis (BOT) which is currently in bad shape as permanent solution to the constant repairs which this road requires.

"The ministry will put up this proposal in the next meeting of the state's infrastructure committee," Bhubal said.