Punjab is all set to witness major facelift in the road network with the State Government giving its in principal approval for strengthening of 9000 kms of link roads with the total cost of Rs 1,000 crores.
The Government is also contemplating to construct ring roads around all major cites of the state for which the feasibility study is being carried out. Besides, a New Green Field Expressway from New Delhi to Katra via Amritsar is in the offing which would be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), for which alignment is being freezed very shortly.
“The year 2018 would witness major infrastructural development in the state as the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is personally keen to upgrade the link road network in the state,” said the state PWD Minister Razia Sultana, while chairing a high level review meeting of the department on Friday.
She said that Landran junction in SAS Nagar would soon be upgraded with the cost of Rs 23. “The instruction for the land acquisition has been given by the Chief Minister and the work on this project would be commenced in the next financial year,” she said.
PWD’s spokesperson said that during the meeting, the Minister said that the project for strengthening of the link roads would also cover the link roads under Punjab Mandi Board.
Under Bharat Mala Scheme, NHAI is upgrading 800 kms of state roads to four-laned national highways, and work on this project would also commenced shortly, she said.
On the issue of delay in widening of major road projects, Chief Engineer AK Singla said that all these projects has been halted because of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on tree felling. The development work on all the projects is underway where the forest clearance has been accorded, he said.
Reviewing the progress on national highways, the Minister instructed to complete the work till December 31, 2018. She specially asked the Chief Engineer to ensure that all the signages along the roads must bear Punjabi language at the top.
PWD Minister also instructed to strengthen the quality control wing of the department to ensure the quality of the construction of the roads, buildings and bridges.