Sukhbir Badal meets Gadkari: discusses construction of road projects

New Delhi/Chandigarh, August 4, 2014: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today assured Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to approve Rs.952 crore for upgradation and construction of 1459 kilometer roads in the state under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) at the earliest. Besides, he also promised to review the new formula for calculation of annual accrual under central road fund scheme.

Punjab Deputy CM Badal today called on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at Krishi Bhawan New Delhi and discussed pendency of road projects vis-à-vis pending wild life clearances with Ministry of Environment and Forest. Gadkari informed the Deputy CM that Center will release the first installment of approved amount soon under PMGSY. He has also sanctioned a separate grant of Rs. 94 crore for construction, repair, widening of new and old roads under PMGSY-2.

Apprising the Minister about Punjab’s pending road projects, Badal urged that 4 laning of Zirakpur-Patiala section of NH-64 should be approved on priority by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Deputy CM also urged approval of 4 laning of Patiala-Bathinda section of NH-64 on EPC mode besides up-gradation of Jalandhar-Moga-Barnala section of NH-71 under NHDP-IV on EPC mode. During the meeting Union Minister has assured to give green signal for this project within this month.

Briefing the minister about the pending wild life clearances, Badal said that pending clearances for 4-laning of NH-15 section Amritsar to Bathinda and 4 laning of Sangrur-Patran-Khanauri up to Punjab/Haryana Border should be released at the earliest. He said the clearances would be imperative for early commencement of work on these projects. After hearing the demands put forth by Punjab Deputy CM patiently, Gadkari assured that Union Ministry would clear all the projects at the earliest.

Badal said ministry should convey the approval of CCEA for 4 laning of Zirakpur Patiala section at the earliest so that the work can be awarded. He said that the state is going to flout the tenders in this regard in coming days. Badal also requested the Union Minister to include this project under the ambit of EPC.

The Deputy CM also apprised Gadkari about the Punjab state facing a big loss due to new formula amended in 2009 for calculation of annual accrual under Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme. He also urged the minister to examine the formula in interests of states as UPA has altered it by giving 30% weightage to fuel consumption and 70% to geographical area instead of earlier rule of 60% weightage to fuel consumption and 40% to geographical area. Gadkari also assured to review the new formula for calculation of annual accrual under CRF.

The Union Minister also informed the Deputy CM that he will also pursue to the forests ministry to grant the pending wild life clearances within short span of time.