T R Balu for strengthening road infrastructure in MP

Bhopal, June 29 (UNI) The Khalghat-Sendhwa and Bhopal-Jabalpur roads would be included in the first phase of the National Highways Development Project while the Centre would accord permission to Madhya Pradesh for four-laning the Dewas-Gwalior and Lakhnadaun-Jabalpur roads on the basis of a project report, Union Surface Transport Minister T R Balu said today while inaugurating the Sehore bypass road.

''The Centre will cooperate with states such as Madhya Pradesh in order to strengthen road infrastructure. On the request of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, enhancing the Central Road Fund allocation will be considered. I urge the state to fix priorities of road projects and send proposals to the Centre,'' he added, as per an official release.

Stressing the need for improved road and air connectivity keeping in view Madhya Pradesh's religious, cultural and commercial importance, the minister said the Centre would help the state in that direction.

Appreciating the state government's performance for timely completion of the bypass, he also commended farmers for their contribution. Thirty-nine km of 81.4-km bypass have been 'four-laned'. The Madhya Pradesh government provided Rs 115 crore for construction.

''As much as 17,000-km roads have been completed in two-and-a-half years and in the coming years 30,000 km will be laid.

There is no room for politics in the development sector,'' said Mr Chouhan.

Public Works Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya warned that those responsible for poor quality construction of roads would be taken to task, the release added.

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