NHAI to spend Rs 10,000 cr for Bengal highways

Kolkata, Dec 01 (UNI) The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will spend Rs 10,000 crore for development of road infrastructure in West Bengal by 2009, NHAI chairman Praeep Kumar said here today.

Briefing reporters here in presence of Mr Kumar, state PWD minister Kshiti Goswami said the NHAI will float a national tender of Rs 42 crore for repairing of several national highways within the state this year. He said in this connection the first work would be taken up for development and upgradation of NH 34 between Mourgram and Kalichak in Malda district covering some 150km.

Hailing the investment friendly atmosphere here quoting Mr Kumar, Mr Goswami said that among the large number of other road construction projects to be taken up during the next four years included the conversion of NH 117-AI into four-lane between Kidderpur and Joka (5km).

This apart the NHAI had also agreed to the state government's demand for extension of NH 41 between Haldia and Mecheda to reduce the presence traffic from nearby state highway. He also said that a proposal for extension of NH 32 from Tulin in Purulia to neighbouring Jharkhand and extension of NH 80 from Bhagalpur in Bihar to Purulia town will be also be constructed. The government has also given the propsoal for second connecting road link from Sevok road to Nathu La to which Mr Kumar has agreed to, Mr Goswami said.

Later Mr Kumar called on state chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb and discussed administrative feasibility of these projects.

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