Naxal-Hit Areas To Get Roads

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday announced that it has sanctioned 17 roads in Naxal-hit areas in AP, covering 438 km, at a cost of Rs. 522 crore.

According to the Union Ministry, this is part of the Centre's initiative to connect people living in areas hit by left wing extremism. The initiative will extend to 138 roads sanctioned by the Centre, covering a length of 3,831 km and costing Rs. 4,390 crore.

The largest numbers of works have been awarded to Chhattisgarh (35 works on a length of 1,480 km, costing Rs. 1,558 crore) while Bihar will get 31 roads, connecting 456 km at a cost of Rs. 377 crore.

Jharkhand will see 10 roads being built covering 414 km, at a cost of Rs. 515 crore; while 4 roads have been sanctioned for Madhya Pradesh covering 126 km, at a cost of Rs. 100 crore.

Likewise, 31 roads will be built in Naxal-affected areas in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 375 crore, covering 404 km.

Orissa and Uttar Pradesh will have 8 and 8 roads covering 446 and 67 km, respectively, at a cost of Rs. 645 and Rs. 37 crore, respectively.

The initiative is part of the Centre's scheme for the development of 1,202 km National Highways and 4,363 km state roads to 2-lane standards, at an estimated cost of Rs. 7300 crore, in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas of 34 districts in 8 states. The scheme was launched in February 2009.

Courtesy: INN