Govt to upgrade 17 highways with PPP model

State highways will be transferred from the PWD to the UP State Highway Authority. But,till the highways are transferred to the Authority,the PWD will look after their maintenance.

As per the proposal approved by the Cabinet,the private developer will develop public utility facilities along highways,toll plaza,service lanes and bus shelters. In the first phase,17 state highways will be taken for upgrade. These include: Bareilly-Almora-Bageshwar,Sultanpur-Azamgarh-Ballia,Varanasi-Shaktinagar,Tanda-Jaunpur-Mirzapur-Duddhi,Badaun-Bilsi-Islamnagar-Bahjoi-Sambhal- Hasanpur-Gajraula,Delhi-Saharanpur-Yamunotri,Pallia-Shahajahanpur-Hardoi-Lucknow,Utraula-Mankapur-Nawabganj,Meerut-Karnal,Gorakhpur-Maharajganj,

Basti-Mehdawal-Kaptanganj-Tamkuhiraj,Moradab-ad-Chandausi-Badaun,Farenda-Naugarh-Jarwal,Garh-Meerut-Baghpat-Sonipat and Bulandshahr-Sayana-Garh.

The state has a total of 99 highways covering a length of 8,432 km.

The state government has also approved a proposal to set up a modern slaughter house in Meerut on the PPP mode within two years. At an estimated cost of Rs 101.76 crore,the new slaughter house to be constructed in Ghosipur village near Meerut city will be spread over 5.2 hectares.

The Cabinet has also approved a proposal to provide the so-far prohibited 9 mm bore pistols to 106 officials of the state Home Guards. The Cabinet has approved the proposal for the purchase of 106 pistols,which will be provided to four deputy commandant generals,12 divisional commandants,58 district commandants,12 commandants of district training centres and 20 inspectors.

The Cabinet also approved the Compounding Scheme for jaggery and khandsari units for 2009-10. Consequently,there would be a 15 per cent hike in mandi fee for Khandsari units.

In a major relief to teachers and librarians of state universities,government and government-aided degree colleges,the Cabinet today also decided to revise their pay scales. The decision is expected to cause an annual recurring financial burden of 191 crore on the state exchequer.

The revised pay scales would be applicable for universities and degree colleges covered by the pay scale of the University Grants Commission. Even as the new scales would be effective from January 1,2006,the payment of arrears for the period between January 1,2006 and March 31,2008,would be paid only after the Centre releases 80 per cent of the total liability to the state government. The payment of arrears would be made in two equal installments,subject to availability of Central funds.

The Cabinet has also approved to extend the benefit of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations to employees of the New Okhla Industrial development Authority. The Authority will bear the entire additional financial burden caused by the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.