Proposal for 5 new national highways submitted to Centre: Vikramaditya Singh

Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh today said that the state government had submitted proposals to the Union Government for sanctioning five new National Highways (NHs). He reviewed the progress of development works here.

The minister said he would meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and request him to sanction five highways to bring development. He added that during the previous BJP regime in the state, the Union government had announced the 69 new national highways but none had been built.

Vikramaditya alleged that the previous BJP government had laid the foundation stones of development works without any financial provision. As a result, most of the schemes remained incomplete. He, however, said that the Congress government was committed to completing these works.

The minister said that the state government was making efforts to bring major district roads under the Central Road Funds (CRF) Plan so as to increase financial assistance for these from the Central Government. He added that he would take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

About the increasing traffic in Una, Vikramaditya said tha the PWD was planning to construct a ring road to divert long distance traffic away from the busy city. He added that the department was preparing a detailed project report to this effect.

Vikramaditya, who also holds the charge of the Urban Development Department, said that the public demand for the upgrade of the Una Municipal Committee to a Municipal Council had been received. Discussions would be held with all stakeholders on the issue, he added.

The minister said that he would meet the Union Urban Development Minister and take up the issues of urban sanitation, sewerage, development of infrastructure and waste management.

He said that 2,070 urban beneficiaries in the state would get the benefit of the Pradhan Mantri Housing Scheme and Rs 35 crore would be spent on it.