Upgradation of two state highways sought

CHANDIGARH, May 8: Handicapped by shortage of funds, the Haryana government has requested the Ministry of Surface Transport MoST to develo...

CHANDIGARH, May 8: Handicapped by shortage of funds, the Haryana government has requested the Ministry of Surface Transport MoST to develop two state highways 8211; with a total length of 268 kilometres 8211; as national highways. If accepted, the upgradation of Bawal-Rewari-Jhajjar-Rohtak-Panipat 160 kms and Saharanpur-Yamunanagar-Panchkula 108 kms, which is estimated to cost about Rs 100 crore, would have to be funded by the Union Transport Ministry.

In a letter to the Union Transport Minister last month, the Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal said five national highways 8211; with a total length of about 665 km 8211; passed through the state at the time of its creation in 1966 but no state highways were upgraded for decades until the Ambala-Kaithal-Uklana-Hisar-Jumpa-Fatehpur road was declared a national highway NH-65 in February 1998. Last month, the state government sought funds to the tune of Rs 70 crore for its upgradation.

Highhlighting the need for strengthening roads, the Chief Minister said the upgradation of the two state highways would have an economic impact on Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The Bawal-Panipat road would emanate from NH-8 and terminate at NH-1, feeding traffic from Himachal, UP and Punjab to Rajasthan.

Similarly, Saharanpur-Panchkula highway would connect UP to NH-22, facilitating movement of traffic from Punjab, HP and Chandigarh, he pointed out.

8220;The decision of the Transport Ministry will be crucial as the state government does not have adequate funds to carry out maintenance of all the roads. If the request is accepted, the funds will come from the Centre,8221; officials said. Besides, the state government is negotiating with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a loan of 275 million approximately Rs 1,100 crore to enhance the capacity, efficiency, durability and economic impact of the state highways.

While the terms for the loan were finalised at a meeting between a high-level Indian delegation and IBRD representatives in Washington last month, the decision is expected only after a meeting of the World Bank in May. The loan would be used to fund widening of 700 km of high-traffic state highways and maintenance of 2,500 km of district roads.