GADKARI NOD TO FOUR ROUTES IN TRIBAL AREAS

Union Ministry of Road and Highways has agreed to include three roads in Chhattisgarh under the ‘Bharatmala Yojana’. The decision came after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, officials informed on Friday. Gadkari agreed to include the 72-km-long RaigarhGharghora-Dharamjaigarh-Patthalgaon route, the 110-kmlong Ambikapur-Wadafnagar-Bamhani-Renukut-Varanasi route and the 40-km-long Pandaria-Bajag-Gandasarai route under the 'Bharatmala Yojana', a government statement said on Friday.

The Chhattisgarh CM informed the Union Minister the three routes connect the proposed routes under the “Bharatmala Yojana” and would lead to the rapid development of the region as it passes through tribaldominated areas of Chhattisgarh, the communique said. On the request of CM Baghel, Gadkari sanctioned the works related to widening of roads, up-gradation, renovation of National Highways and in-principle declared National Highways in Chhattisgarh at an estimated cost of Rs10,608.37 crore. The land acquisition work on Raipur Durg Bypass, Raipur-Vishakhapatnam route and BilaspurUrga route under “Bharatmala Yojana” is under way, the CM said. During the meeting, Union Minister sanctioned road development works worth over Rs20,000 crore in Chhattisgarh.

The CM also sought sanction for an estimate of Rs 84 crore under periodical renewal for the year 2020-21. He sought approval for construction work from Mungeli to Pondi Marg and Madangmuda to Devbhog near Odisha border under Annual Plan 2020-21, the communique said.