Bhopal-Indore six-lane Expressway to be Model Highway: CM Nath
| Date :03-Jul-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Chief Minister Kamal Nath met Union Surface Transport and National Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at latter’s New Delhi residence on Monday late night and held a detailed discussion on issues related to national highways. Discussing the proposed Bhopal-Indore six-lane Green Expressway in the State, the Chief Minister said that the Expressway will be developed in the form of a flagship road. Its construction can be taken up by either NHAI or the State Government.
He said the proposed Expressway will be developed as a model highway with Logistic Park, Logistic Hub, Smart City, IT Park to be developed on both sides. The construction of the Expressway will facilitate transportation between Bhopal-Indore-Bhopal and facilitate the commercial activities. Nath urged Union Minister Gadkari to sanction Rs 1,271 crore for the upgradation of 232 km stretches of national highways in the Annual Action Plan for the year 2019-20 for the state. Besides he also proposed reimbursement of Rs. 363.78 crore under CRF and approval of new works amounting to Rs 1131 crore for the year 2019-20. Apart from this he urged to sanction Rs 25 crore for periodic renewal of 116 km national highways of the state for the year 2019-20.
Nath urged to approve Rs 205 crore under the one-time investment scheme for upgradation of National Highways passing through the towns of the state. Nath said that in principle, the cost of maintenance of the approved National Highways should be borne by the Ministry of National Highways only. Besides he also urged for Centre’s approval for strengthening of IRQP (Improvement of Riding Quality Programme Scheme) for the year 2019-20 and Rs 153 crore scheme for 363 km of national highways. Nath urged to sanction Rs 5.38 crore for services, for the preparation of DPR of the Bhopal-Indore 6-lane Green field Expressway soon and expressed the need to reduce the ROW (lines) limit from 75 units to 70 units.
Expressing concern over the abnormally slow progress of Sidhi-Singrauli NH 75 on BOT mode he called for terminating the existing BOT and giving it to another company and demanded Rs 2.35 crore for its maintenance. Similarly, he expressed concern on the slow progress of Barela-Mandla National Highway 12A on EPS mode. Nath called for terminating this contract also and demanded Rs 6.28 crore for completion and maintenance of the work. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also urged Gadkari for publication of toll-free notification for 3 projects completed in EPC mode by Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation at the earliest. State Public Works Minister Sajjan Singh Verma, Chief Secretary S R Mohanty, Principal Secretary Public Works Malay Shrivastava and senior officers of Road Development Corporation were also present in the meeting