15 NH projects in C’garh to complete by Mar’19: Centre

As many as 15 National Highway projects are about to get completed unhindered by the end of March 2019 in Chhattisgarh, the Central Government has informed.

This apart, notably, the Chhattisgarh Government has also prepared and approved a priority investment program for improvement (rehabilitation, strengthening and widening) of about 5,000 km of state roads at an estimated cost of about Rs 10,500 crore according to an introductory note made in the Initial Environment Examination (IEE) report submitted by State Public Works Department (PWD) to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)  in May this year.

The PWD has improved many roads through State Government funds and support from funding agencies including 1249 Km roads with the help of ADB, it mentioned.

The State Government plans to improve the state road network under Chhattisgarh State Roads Sector Development Project (CSRSDP) with the assistance of Asian Development Bank and for that has applied for a loan through Government of India from the ADB for the improvement of about 916 kms state roads in Chhattisgarh, the report mentioned.

This road up-gradation and rehabilitation project will improve transport efficiency of the State road network which will contribute to expansion of economic opportunities and poverty reduction.

Roads are the main mode of transportation in Chhattisgarh. National highways (NH6, NH16 and NH78) provide good east-west connections with neighbouring states, and NH43 and NH200 provide the main north-south connection between Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, it mentioned.

However, the remaining roads in Chhattisgarh are mostly in poor conditions and not passable in the monsoon season. This is especially true for roads in southern and northern Chhattisgarh, where most of the tribals live, the report informed.

To improve state roads, PWD in 2002–2003, prepared a 10-Year Master Plan for Road Sector Development (MPRSD) for the years 2003 to 2012.

The MPRSD aims to (i) promote development of six main road corridors, (ii) remove capacity bottlenecks from the network to better connect rural areas, and (iii) support socio-economic development by improving road access and connectivity among growth centers.

Based on MPRSD, Government of Chhattisgarh prepared and approved a priority investment program for improvement (rehabilitation, strengthening and widening) of about 5,000 km of state roads at an estimated cost of about Rs 10,500 crore. The PWD has improved many roads through Government funds and support from funding agencies including 1249 Km roads with the help of ADB, it informed.