THE Chhattisgarh Government has granted administrative approval of Rs 1,093.73 crore for 44 major road projects across all six districts of the Surguja division. The projects cover Surguja, Surajpur, Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Koriya, M a n e n d r a g a r h - C h i r m i r i - Bharatpur and Jashpur districts and include construction of new roads, widening, asphalt surfacing, strengthening, fourlaning and construction of bridges and culverts. In Surguja district, Rs 69.10 crore has been sanctioned for widening a 5-km stretch from Larangsai Chowk to the Ramanujganj route into four lanes, while Rs 61.34 crore has been approved for a 5-km fourlane stretch from Gandhi Chowk to the railway station in Ambikapur. Works in the Lundra and Sitapur areas will include strengthening of roads and culverts, including the Askala-Dorna and Sontrai-Mainpat routes, for which Rs 26.33 crore has been sanctioned. In Surajpur district, Rs 64.93 crore has been sanctioned for the 63-km Tara-PremnagarRamanujnagar-Krishnapur route in the Bhatgaon Assembly constituency. The Kalyanpur-Latori route will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 40.93 crore, while Rs 32.24 crore has been sanctioned for the Vishunpur-Surajpur-Odgi route.

 

Another Rs 16.39 crore will be spent on strengthening the 17- km Surajpur Ring Road. In Balrampur-Ramanujganj district, Rs 38.80 crore has been approved for upgrading the 18-km Paraswar-Chalgali road, Rs 35.32 crore for the Wadrafnagar-Janakpur-Balangi road and Rs 25.69 crore for the Kameshwarnagar-Lurgi road. The projects are expected to improve connectivity with border areas. In Jashpur district, Rs 40.32 crore has been sanctioned for strengthening the 55.80-km Ludeg-Bagbahar-TapkaraLavakera state highway. Another Rs 36.85 crore has been approved for upgrading roads in the hilly areas of Pathalgaon, while Rs 34.44 crore has been sanctioned for the Batauli-Bagicha-Charaidand road. The Government said the projects are expected to improve transportation and generate wider economic and social benefits. Better roads will help farmers transport produce to markets, boost trade and strengthen the rural economy. Improved connectivity will also make it easier for people in remote and forest areas to access healthcare and educational institutions.