Highways to have improved riding quality and safety; Govt

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) Going in for a massive upgradation of highways in the country, especially in Bihar, the Government today gave its approval to render huge stretches of roads with improved riding quality, faster movement of vehicles and improved traffic safety.

Adding 996 km for upgradation to the National Highways at the CCEA decision chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the total highways to be upgraded will be now 12,109 km at a cost of Rs 47,557 crore.

This will lead to reduction in vehicle operating cost and significant reduction in fuel consumption for the vehicle resulting in energy conservation.

The CCEA approval would also provide linkage to other corridors of high density/economic importance, tourism, pilgrimage, port connectvity and strategic importance.

At a cost of Rs 6,782 crore, the Government said 780 km of National Highways would be upgraded to four lane in Bihar totalling the renewed roads in the state to 4,815 km.

Already 4,035 km have been approved for upgradation in the state under Phase-III of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), Mr Dasmunsi said after the CCEA meeting.

The cost would include land acquisition, utility shifting, rehabilitation and resettlement, consultancy, etc within the the ceiling of 40 per cent viability gap funding in accordance with implementation mechanism.

The CCEA also approved for the award of three sub-projects for four laning of Khalghat-MP/Maharashtra border section of NH-3 (totalling 82.3 km), Hazaribagh-Ranchi section of NH-33 (71.16 km) and Rohtak-Hissar section of NH-10 (89.36 km).

UNI