Central government targets good road network

Chennai: The union minister for shipping, road transport and highways, T R Baalu has said that the creation of a world-class physical infrastructure is one of the major objectives of the government.

With plans for expansion and modernisation of port and road infrastructure through various initiatives, the infrastructure sectors are gearing up to fulfill their roles in the economic development of the country. He was addressing the members of the parliamentary consultative committee here today.

The minister briefed the members about the status of the various road projects under NHDP phase-III and phase-III A. The government has granted approval for four-laning of 4,000km at an estimated cost of Rs22,000 crore and approval for 6,000 km is in process.

Under NHDP Phase III, 71 National highways stretches are being developed which would help to smoothen traffic in high density traffic corridors and would connect places of economic and commercial importance, he added.

According to him 68 stretches of a total length of 6,139 kms had been identified under NHDP phase III-A. Action had also been initiated for approval of phase III-B also so that all viable stretches can be taken up for implementation on priority. Underlining the importance of development of road projects in the North-Eastern region, Baalu said that special development programme has been prepared for the region.