Centre sanctions Rs.8000 crores to develop Telangana's highways

Union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari has sanctioned Rs 8,000 crore for development of national highways in the state.  Addressing the 77th conference of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) here on Saturday, Gadkari said roads would pay a key role in the development of the country.

He said the Centre has approved development of national highways in Telangana and announced sanctioning of Rs 8,000 crore and added that road development should take place in accordance with increase in vehicular traffic. Gadkari, however, admitted that land acquisition, environmental and forest clearances were main problems for construction of new roads.“Due to lack of permissions, around Rs 3.75 lakh valued



road works were stalled in the country. But, after I assumed charge I gave permissions and completed 95 per cent of these pending works,” Gadkari claimed.

He said the usage of plastic in road construction was under active consideration of the Central government.The minister said the length of national highways in the country would be increased to 2 lakh km from the current 90,000 km.

Of the total road works, one per cent of the contracting value would be allocated for the development of greenery along the roads, he said. Indian Roads Congress president SS Porwal, R&B minister T Nageswara Rao, principal secretary R&B Sunil Sharma and others were present.