High-Level Meeting Focuses on Strengthening Punjab’s Road Network
A high-level meeting led by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was held yesterday in Delhi to review national highway projects in Punjab. Punjab’s Public Works and Power Minister, S. Harbhajan Singh ETO, participated alongside Union Ministers of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra.
Central and state administrative secretaries, senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, Punjab Public Works Department, contractors, and consultants were also present.
The meeting focused on expediting the construction of 1438 kilometers of national highways in Punjab, with a total project cost of approximately Rs. 45,000 crore. Discussions addressed several key issues related to project completion:
- Land Acquisition: Early handover of acquired land, faster disbursement of compensation to landowners, and creation of a land bank for non-forest land exchanges were prioritized.
- Material Procurement: Ensuring a steady supply of ash from thermal power plants for construction was discussed.
- Project Delays: The issue of land acquisition delays plaguing some projects was highlighted, and the need for swift solutions was emphasized.
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Punjab Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO assured the Union Minister that the state government would address all these issues within a specific timeframe to ensure smoother transportation for Punjab’s citizens. Additionally, the proposal for constructing a Vehicular Under Pass (VUP) at Khan-kot to improve highway connectivity and road safety was presented to Mr. Gadkari.
