The Centre is planning to develop three roads in the border areas of Rajasthan that could double as airstrips, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said here today.
"Three roads will be developed in border areas in Rajasthan under the Bharatmala project which could be used as airstrips," he said at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for two road projects in Churu district's Salasar area.
The ambitious Bharatmala project, announced in 2015, involves connecting eastern and western India (from Mizoram to Gujarat) covering 10 other states through 7,000 km of national highways.
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The Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping also said the government has decided to extend the length of national highways in the country from existing 96,000 km to 2 lakh km.
He said the expansion of highways would not only decongest the roads but also help reduce accidents.
"1.5 lakh people die in nearly 5 lakh road accidents in the country. The number of vehicles are increasing and traffic congestion is also on the rise," the Minister said.
In Rajasthan, a length of 7,000 km will be added to the national highways, he said.
Gadkari also said the Centre is working on developing 111 rivers across the country as national waterways and the work in the Ganga river has already begun.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who was also present at the programme, said the state government is working on resolving issue of water scarcity with Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan, which aims to improve the water table.
Besides, she said, the state government is also contemplating a project to bring sea water to the state so that the water demand could be met.
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