New Delhi (NVI): Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated, laid foundation stone of 45 highway projects worth Rs 11,427 crore in Madhya Pradesh through video conference.
These projects for inauguration and foundation laying carry a Road length of 1361 kilometers, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a statement.
These roads will enhance better connectivity, convenience and economic growth in and around the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Ministry said.
Movement of people and goods to and from Madhya Pradesh will also improve substantially especially with the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, it said.
(1) आज मध्य प्रदेश के इतिहास में प्रगति और विकास का एक स्वर्णिम क्षण है। राज्य में सड़क नेटवर्क को मजबूती देने के लिए 45 सड़क परियोजनाओं का मध्य प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj जी, परिवहन राज्यमंत्री जी, @Gen_VKSingh pic.twitter.com/tTHl6UTzaf
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020
In his virtual address, Gadkari said that the NH length in the state is 13,248 kms today, which was barely 5,186 kms in the year 2014.
“Rs 1,25,000 crore worth of development works are underway in Madhya Pradesh. As much as 60 to 70 per cent works have been completed on approx. Rs 30,000 crore worth road works in the state,” he added.
The Minister announced that by the year 2023, development works worth Rs 50,000 crore are targeted for completion in the state.
“The work has already started on the 1260 km eight-lane access controlled Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, of which 244 km 8-lane length will be constructed in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs 8,214 crore,” Gadkari said.
Expressing concern over the death of 0.15 million people in 0.5 million road accidents every year across the country, Gadkari said 40% of those killed in these accidents were aged 18 to 24 years.
Appreciating Tamil Nadu for its work on black spots in the state where significant number of road accidents take place, he asked chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to work on black spots in Madhya Pradesh.
In addition to this, underlining the need of more drivers in the country, he said there should be one driving school in every district.
Others who attended the programme included Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Thaverchand Gehlot, Prahlad Singh Patel and VK Singh and PWD minister Gopal Bhargava, besides officers of the ministry of road transport and highways and the Madhya Pradesh government.
-CHK/ARK
