Haryana to widen all National Highways by 7 to 10 meters

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (UNI) The Haryana Government has formulated an ambitious scheme to widen all national highways to at least seven metres, preferably over 10 metres by the year 2010.

Widening works of 185 km length of roads are in progress and 172 kms length of roads are in pipeline, an official spokesman said adding that the state government was all set to create better infrastructure in the State.

A sum of Rs 4,740 crore has been spent on development of roads, bridges and buildings during the period from March, 2005 to October, 2008 as against Rs 2,334 crore spent by the previous government during its full term of five years, he said.

He said that special thrust is being laid on the construction of road over bridges (ROBs) to facilitate trade and commerce and to reduce congestion and pollution.

During the tenure of present state government, seven ROBs have already been completed, eight ROBs were slated to be completed by March, 2009 and work on 13 ROBs is likely to be completed by the end of 2009. Projects costing Rs 1,133 crore have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana by the present State Government against Rs 100 crore spent by the previous Government.

Under an ambitious Rajiv Gandhi Bridges and Roads Infrastructure Development Programme, projects costing Rs 3000 crore would be completed by the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) by March, 2010, said the spokesman.

Projects costing Rs 1,850 crore have already been completed and projects costing about Rs 800 crore would be completed by March 31, 2009, he said.

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