Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Urges to lay foundation stones of 4 major 4 laning projects worth Rs 1693 crore
* Gadkari approves major road projects worth Rs. 5261 crore
* 128 km Patiala-Bathinda road approved on EPC mode costing Rs 1238 cr
New Delhi/Chandigarh, The Union Government today extended New Year bonanza to Punjab by approving major road projects to be completed at a cost of Rs. 5261 crore with 4-laning of Patiala-Bathinda road in three packages on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry has also decided to lay the foundation stone of 4-laning of 94 kilometer long stretch from Sangrur to Khanouri upto Haryana border in the state at a cost of Rs. 1693 crore.
This was decided in a high level meeting held between Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal here in which Mr Badal urged the Union minister to put NH projects in Punjab on fast track. Mr. Gadkari also gave his nod to lay foundation stones of 4-laning project of 4 major roads to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1693 crore from Sangrur to Dogal Kalan NH-71, Dogal Kalan to Khanouri, Sangrur bye-pass and Dhanaula bye-pass and Patiala bye-pass.
Approving 4 laning of Patiala-Bathinda road, Mr. Gadkari said this would be accomplished in three packages from Patiala bye-pass to Sangrur bye-pass in first package, start of Sangrur bye-pass to boundary of Barnala city and from this point to Bathinda city. He said cost of this project would be Rs. 1238 crore to complete a total 128 kilometer stretch on National Highways-64.
Mr. Badal also sought necessary directions from Mr. Gadkari to NHAI to include 12.300 kms of NH-95 from Samrala Chowk to Municipal Corporation limit Ludhiana in ongoing project of 4/6 lane of Chandigarh to Samrala Chowk.
He said Punjab has submitted the feasibility report along with rough cost of this work for taking further necessary action to the ministry.
Deputy Chief Minister also asked the ministry to expedite the proceedings to initiate physical work on the first part of 4/6-laning of Chandigarh-Ludhiana section of NH 95. During the meeting NHAI intimated that tenders for Chandigarh-Kharar section with approximate cost of Rs. 400 crore have been invited on EPC mode and tenders for Kharar-Ludhiana on BOT mode would be invited shortly.
Discussing the 4-lane Laddowal bypass linking NH-95 with NH-1 via Ladhowal seed farm, Mr. Badal urged to consider this ring road project around Ludhiana city under NHDP-VII on EPC mode worth Rs. 500 crore. During the meeting Mr Gadkari asked the NHAI to take up the construction of this bypass at the earliest.
Focusing on the improvement of Amritsar bypass NH-1 upto Wagah border, Mr. Badal also asked Mr. Gadkari to issue necessary directions to NHAI for initiation of physical work on this major road at the earliest. He said this would change the facelift of holy city Amritsar from its entry point on Jalandhar side to Ajnala Chowk leading to Guru Ramdas International Airport upto Wagah border. In the meeting Mr Gadkari issued instructions to NHAI to start this project at the earliest with approximate cost Rs. 500 Cr. The project includes 6-laning of existing 4-laned Amritsar bypass (NH-1) upto Wagha Border road with services roads, road lighting and other beautification.
Apprising the minister about the status of up-gradation of Rupnagar-Phagwara road, Mr. Badal said ministry should clear the DPR at the earliest so that the project could be initiated. In the meeting instructions were issued to NHAI to initiate this project and prepare its DPR for 4-laning of Ropar-Phagwara road at the earliest. After hearing the demands put forth by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Gadkari while approving the road projects worth Rs. 5261 crore assured that remaining issues of Punjab would be sorted out in short span of time.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Mr PS Aujla Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister and Mr Ashok Singla Chief Engineer PWD.
