Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for 3 highway projects at Sonepat

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...m-rajasthan/article19581152.ece?homepage=true

At a rally in Khel Gaon, Udaipur, he inaugurates and lays the foundation stone for several highway projects in Rajasthan, with an outlay of over ₹15,000 crore.
With an eye on the Rajasthan Assembly elections slated for next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the previous Congress-led government for stalled projects, while inaugurating highway projects worth over ₹5,610 crore.

Among the 12 projects inaugurated included a long-pending project of constructing a 1.4 km six-lane cable-stayed bridge across the Chambal river in Kota, which was sanctioned in 2006. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for 11 road projects worth ₹9,490 crore in Rajasthan.

“It took 11 years and the budget was not even ₹300 crore,” Mr. Modi said, referring to the Chambal bridge project. “A small bridge that can be constructed in 1-1.5 years even at nominal pace took 11 years to complete and today, in three years after coming to power, we have inaugurated projects worth ₹5,600 crore. This shows the difference between governments.”

“Our focus is on timely completion. We will complete projects we begin,” Mr. Modi said, while addressing his first public rally in Rajasthan in two years to a gathering of around 50,000 people here.

Gadkari’s charge
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the project had been stuck due to the previous government’s inefficiency and after the under-construction bridge collapsed in 2009 killing at least 30 workers, “people had lost hope about the project.”

“This project holds great significance as the construction of the bridge will mark the completion of the East-West corridor,” he said, adding that national highway projects worth ₹2 lakh crore were lined up for Rajasthan in the next five years. He said the length of national highway in Rajasthan had doubled from 7,498 km in 2014 to 14,465 km till date and the number of national highways had gone up from 35 to 85 during this period.

Mr. Modi said the upcoming road projects worth over ₹9,000 crore would boost tourism, help farmers and open up economic opportunities for the local population.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-opening-of-enathu-bridge/article19588780.ece

The bridge across the Kallada river at Enathu which has remained closed since January 10, 2017 following damage to two piers will be reopened for traffic on Thursday. The damaged piers have been replaced by two concrete ones.

Works Minister to open the strengthened bridge today
After a gap of seven months, the bridge across the Kallada river at Enathu on MC Road will be reopened for public transport on Thursday.

The 18-year-old bridge links the two districts of Kollam and Pathanamthitta. It was closed since January 10 following

detection of damage on its two piers.

Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran will inaugurate the strengthened bridge at a public function at Kulakkada, near

Enathu, on Thursday afternoon. The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) has constructed two new concrete piers to replace the two damaged piers, after supporting the concrete slab with iron girders.

The damaged piers (P2 and P3) have been demolished, after providing support to the concrete slab, prior to casting of the new piers with the help of jacking systems. The bridge-strengthening work was carried out at an estimated cost of ₹4.75 crore.

Kottarakara MLA Aysha Potti will preside over the public meeting to be held at Kulakkada on the opposite bank of Enathu at 4 p.m. Chittayam Gopakumar, Adoor MLA, will welcome the gathering. Kodikkunnil Suresh, Anto Antony, and K.Somaprasad, MPs, and K.B.Ganeshkumar, MLA, will be guests of honour at the function.

Annapoornadevi and K. Jagadamma, district panchayat presidents of Pathanamthitta and Kollam, and Ajith Patil, KSTP project director, will also address the function.

An Army team, which is expected to reach Adoor in the first week of September, will dismantle the Bailey bridge erected nearby and take it back to Hyderabad.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
01-September, 2017 18:36 IST
NHAI achieves first milestone in Electronic Toll Collection: dedicated FASTag lane operationalized at every toll plaza from today

NHAI achieved the first milestone in Electronic Toll Collection when it operationalised one dedicated FASTag lane at all toll plazas from today. Now FASTag enabled vehicles can cruise through the dedicated FASTag lane without stopping at toll plazas on National Highways.

The FASTag is an RFID tag available both online and offline through banks and Common Service Centres. Two mobile applications were launched by NHAI on 17th August, 2017,for ease of obtaining FASTags, which have received tremendous response. Thousands of road users have downloaded the applications and purchased FASTags in less than two weeks. The penetration of FASTag has increased to 18 % as on 31st August, 2017.

The Government of India has mandated that new vehicles being sold with effect from 1st October, 2017 will be affixed with active FASTag. The “FASTag Partner App” will facilitate more than 6000 dealers in the country to access a single platform and activate the FASTag at the time of delivery of vehicle.

NHAI has also launched massive awareness campaign to make road users aware of the FASTag and its benefits. NHAI officers have been tasked to visit toll plazas personally and ensure operationalisation of single dedicated Electronic Toll Collection lane. NHAI plans that as penetration of FASTag increases, more and more lanes will be dedicated to ETC.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
09-September, 2017 16:04 IST
NHAI projects to generate an estimated employment of 13 crore man-days yearly from 2018-2021

NHAI undertakes elaborate exercise for Skill Development

The National Highways Authority of India has undertaken an elaborate exercise for Skill Development to meet its requirement of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled work force over the next few years. Currently, NHAI has 282 projects of about 20,000 km length under implementation across the country, out of which 10,000 km of length is targeted to be completed over the next one to two years. In addition to this there are around 220 projects with length of about 31,000 km which are targeted to be awarded and completed in the next 3 to 4 years across all states under NHDP and Bharat Mala Programmes.

The ongoing and targeted projects would generate an estimated employment of 13 crore man-days yearly from 2018-2021, comprising about 1.0 crore professional man-days, 9.0 crore skilled labour man-days and 3.0 crore semi-skilled & un-skilled man-days. This would translate to an average of more than 5 lakh of manpower per month comprising 0.4 lakh professionals, 3.2 lakh skilled and 1.4 lakh semi-skilled & un-skilled labour.

In a meeting held last week with officers of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Chairman NHAI asked for a road map to be chalked out for skilling of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers. He has asked the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to submit a detailed plan for Skill Development in tune with the requirements of NHAI projects within a month. The plan would then be finalised in discussion with the concerned stakeholders.

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[Hindustani78]

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
12-September, 2017 17:01 IST
Cabinet approves development of six laning of Narasannapeta-Ranastalam section of National Highway (NH) - 16 in Andhra Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for development of six laning of Narasannapeta-Ranastalam section of National Highway (NH) – 16 (old NH-5) in Andhra Pradesh.

The cost is estimated to be Rs.1423 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the six laningroad to be developed is approximately 54 km.

This work will be done under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase V on Hybrid Annuity Mode.

The major industrial development centres that will be benefitted with better connectivity from the project corridor are APIIC SEZ, Pydibhimavaram, Bhogapuram Airport, Vizag Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam Port, Gangavaram Port, Divi'S Laboratories Limited & INS Varsha. The projected traffic in 2016-17 on this stretch is about 33000 PCUs per day. Keeping in view the expected traffic growth in the near future, the expansion to from existing four Lanes to Six lanes is a very timely step taken by the Government of India.

The provision for two by-passes will ensure decongestion of the urban areas of Etcherla and Ranastalam. Similarly, the 29 flyovers/ VUPs/CUPs would facilitate fast movement of traffic in the project reach while simultaneously decongesting the areas. Three trucks parking will facilitate smooth movement of freight traffic. The truck drivers would also benefit from the amenities in one rest area being developed. On both sides, provision for service roads in 37 km of the project stretch, slip roads in about 43 km and bus bays at 42 locations will benefit safe, comfortable and smooth movement of long distance commercial traffic as well as movement of local traffic in inhabited/urbanized areas.

  The project would also increase employment potential for local labourers from project activities. It has been estimated that a total number of 4076 mandays are required for construction of one kilometre of highway. As such, employment potential of 2,21,000 (approx.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch. Consequent self-employment due to improved traffic conditions would be in addition.

Background:

At present, the existing road is two-lane and passes through urban habitations of Narasannapeta,Madapam, Singipurma, Pedapadu, Seepannaidupeta, Navabharatnagar, Chilakapalem, Budumuru, Bonthupeta and Laveru. National Highway No-16 (Old NH-5), a part of Golden Quadrilateral, connects Chennai in the State of Tamilnadu and Kolkata in the State of West Bengal, and passes through Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. The development to six-lane of this road with bypasses at Etcherla&Ranastalam, and construction of 29 flyovers/VUPs/CUPs would greatly reduce travel time and Vehicle Operating Costs as well as help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh state. This road is part of the high-density traffic corridor namely Kolkata-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada-Chennai.

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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
12-September, 2017 17:48 IST
NHAI issues Appeal for Removal of Encroachment and Illegal Access on NHs

Various establishments like dhabas, buildings, factories, restaurants, hoardings and advertisements have come up along National Highways illegally. These establishments are safety hazards for traffic plying on National Highways as they allow illegal access and parking of vehicles on the highways. Further, unauthorized hoardings and advertisements are safety hazards as these distract drivers.

Setting up of these illegal establishments is a punishable offense under Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 (Chapter 3 & 4). The NHAI has issued an Appeal to all such establishments to close the illegal access activities at their level and apply for legal access to their establishments under the policy. They have also been asked to remove all the hoardings and advertisements distracting the attention of drivers for safety of the road users. Failing this, Field Officers have been directed to start a special drive to terminate these illegal access, remove hoardings/ advertisements from the ROW of National Highways and take action against illegal parking of vehicles on National Highways with the help of local police and district administration, including lodging of police complaint against such defaulters.



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[Hindustani78]

BENGALURU, September 13, 2017 15:55 IST
Updated: September 13, 2017 16:00 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...for-developing-ring-roads/article19676110.ece

An empowered committee will be constituted to conduct a survey for development of ring roads in 25 district headquarters under the Town Planning Scheme. | Photo Credit: File Photo

State Cabinet to constitute an empowered committee for the same
The State Cabinet, on Wednesday, decided to constitute an empowered committee for development of ring roads in 25 district headquarters under the Town Planning Scheme.

The committee has been given five-year term and the estimated cost of the survey is ₹275 crore.

The committee will be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of Urban Development and will have secretaries of Finance, Planning, Municipal Administration and related departments as members to conduct a survey and submit a report to the state government, T.B. Jayachandra, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The survey will cover 25 cities, mainly district headquarters. It would involve acquisition of lands and providing connectivity to national highways.

One law

To bring all urban and municipal corporation laws under one law, the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, has been asked to study all laws and submit a report to the government. Currently, there are many urban laws, including Karnataka Municipal Act, 1964, Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976.

The State Cabinet has approved the release of ₹25 crore for repairs, renovation of the existing building and construction of new buildings and for providing other facilities to Karnataka Arts, Science and Commerce College, Dharwad, in view of the centenary celebrations.

Recruitment

It also approved the Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment of Meritorious sports persons in the category of Deputy Range Forest Officers, Forest Watchers) Special Rules, 2017, for recruiting national and international sports persons. The Forest Department has decided to fill 125 posts under the sports category. Currently, there were 54 vacancies under the category, Mr. Jayachandra said.

The Cabinet had also decided to grant of 77.93 acres of government land in Gonalu Village of Hospet taluk in Ballari district for impounding reservoir project for the JSW Steels factory. The factory would utilise the water for industrial purpose.

A total of 27.3 acres of government land in various survey numbers of Basavanadurga and Haruvanahalli village of Hospettaluk in Ballari district would be acquired and given to K.B. Steels Pvt. Ltd. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board would acquire land at ₹6 lakh per acre for the project.

Policy

To make Bengaluru the electric vehicle capital of India, the Cabinet approved a new “Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy” to reduce pollution and promote healthy environment. The Major and Medium Industries Department has formulated the policy, perhaps the first of kind in the country, after consulting various stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturing industries.

Mr. Jayachandra said many developed countries have formulated the policy to promote electric vehicles. Currently, many customers refused to buy electric vehicles citing high cost of battery.

“Electric vehicles are the future. To make Bengaluru the electric vehicle capital of India and Karnatkaa an environment-friendly state, the government will soon bring out the ‘Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy’,” R.V. Deshpande, Minister for Major and Medium Industries said and added that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMCT) too has plans of buying electric buses.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
22-September, 2017 16:41 IST
83rd PPPAC meeting clears National highway Project

The Eighty Third Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), chaired by Secretary (Economic Affairs), met here today and cleared a National Highway project from the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways for Six Laning of Anandapuram-Pendurthi-Anakapalli section of NH-5 along with 4 Lane Connectivity to Visakhapatnam Port Road in Andhra Pradesh on Hybrid Annuity Mode.

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[Hindustani78]

ONGOLE, September 22, 2017 01:15 IST
Updated: September 22, 2017 01:15 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...o-prevent-highway-mishaps/article19730936.ece

Pilot project in Prakasam to help avoid unauthorised parking of heavy vehicles
The Prakasam police have taken up a pilot intelligent vehicle detection sensor project to make the arterial Chennai-Kolkata highway safer for travel.

As many as 972 mishaps occurred in the district so far this year leaving 367 dead and 1,295 injured as against 1,006 mishaps in 2016 which left 387 dead and 1,342 injured.

An analysis of the mishaps in the last two years shows that it is the unauthorised parking of vehicles on the national highway that is responsible for a majority of the rear-end collisions on the expressway as head-on collisions have become a thing of the past with the six-laning of the highway, as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project, points out Superintendent of Police B. Satya Yesu Babu.

Though eight police vehicles have been deployed on the 124.5 km stretch of the highway in the district, we find it practically impossible to prevent unauthorised parking by heavy vehicle drivers, particularly during the dead of night.

Hence the pilot project to ensure electronic surveillance of the highway to detect unauthorised parking of vehicles, especially near motels, and prevent mishaps.

Sensor alert

Explaining the working of the anti-parking system, the SP says the sensor installed after taking into account the dimensions of heavy vehicles identifies the vehicles parked for more than three minutes and sends alerts through sirens/SMS/calls to the control room and the patrolling vehicle concerned for removal of the vehicle.

A CCTV put in the place gets immediately activated for the police personnel at the command control system to monitor till the vehicle is removed from the place by rushing the nearest patrol vehicle to the spot, adds the SP in a conversation with The Hindu.

Accident-prone spots

“We have identified 40 accident-prone places with geo-location on the highway for installation of the system in phases after fine-tuning it based on field experiences,” says the SP after satisfying himself with the working of the system installed on an experimental basis on the margins of the highway on both sides at Martur.

Maintaining a WhatsApp group comprising all night patrolling staff, the department is conducting ‘stop, wash and go’ programme for the drivers of vehicles to prevent mishaps, adds DSP (Traffic) J. Ram Babu.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
27-September, 2017 17:33 IST
A New Division to focus on Highway Operations

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has constructed nearly 30,000 Km world-class National Highways and has another 20,000 Km scheduled for completion in the next couple of years. The sustained growth will ensure that Indian National Highway network will measure approximately 50,000 Km of highways in the next two years, which is third largest Highways Network in the world.

However, this achievement also signals the need of focusing on the Highway Operations for rendering world class services to the highway users. Thus the NHAI has created a new Highway Operations Division. This division will focus on all non-commercial Highway Operational activities for efficient network utilization and providing hassle-free services.

The Highway Operations Division at NHAI will be headed by Member (Admin) and assisted by CGM (IT & HO) and a team of experienced officers. The Highway Operation Division will be in charge of the Electronic Tolling, Wayside Amenities, Road Safety & Security, Incident Management–Helpline, Tracking of Ambulance, Cranes on Highways, Highway Traffic Management System, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Highway Plantation, Road lighting, Wi-Fi and other modern amenities on National Highways.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
29-September, 2017 15:10 IST
NHAI’s projects to generate approximately 50 Crore man-days employment over next four years

The ongoing and targeted projects of National Highways Authority of India would generate estimated employment of approximately 50 crores man days over the next four years on a seasonal basis. This would be averaging to nearly 12.5 crore man-days yearly from 2018-2022. Of this, about 1.0 crore will be professional man-days, 3.5 crore skilled labour man-days and 8.0 crore semi-skilled and un-skilled man days.

The NHAI currently has 282 projects having length of about 20,000 km under implementation across the country out of which 10,000 km of length is targeted to be completed over next one to two years. There are around 220 projects having length of about 31,000 km which are targeted to be awarded and completed in the next 3 to 4 years across all the States in the country under NHDP and Bharat Mala Schemes. Thus, NHAI plans to construct approximately 50,000 km Highways in next 4 years.

This will generate seasonal employment opportunities as successful and efficient execution of projects invariably requires qualified professionals, skilled and semi-skilled work force.

In order to meet the requirement of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled work force, NHAI has undertaken an elaborate exercise for Skill Development. The Chairman, NHAI Shri Deepak Kumar, held a meeting with the officers of Ministry of skill Development and Entrepreneurship to chalk out the road map for skilling of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers. Various issues connected with the Skill Development were discussed in the meeting. The Chairman, NHAI asked the officers of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to submit detailed plan of Skill Development in tune with the requirement of NHAI projects. The plan would be finalized in discussion with the concerned stakeholders.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
01-October, 2017 17:21 IST
NHAI Organising 50 Free Eye Check-up camps on NHs from 2-6 October

Will distribute Spectacles to Truck Drivers, Cleaners and Helpers

The Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari will launch the countrywide Free Eye Check-up Campaign and distribution of spectacles for truck drivers, cleaners and helpers on 2nd October, 2017 at Panjari Toll Plaza, Nagpur Bypass, Nagpur in Maharashtra. The objective of this initiative is to ensure clearer vision and safe travel for truck drivers who are the most frequent users of national highways.

Eyesight is a basic requirement for safe driving. Poor vision increases the risk of collisions due to the driver’s inability to recognise and react in time to a hazard or the behaviour of other road users. The NHAI has decided to launch a Free Eye Check-up Campaign and distribute spectacles for truck drivers, cleaners and helpers on the 2nd October 2017, which will continue for 5 days i.e. till 6th October. Free Eye Check-up Camps for drivers is one of the many innovative programmes undertaken by NHAI to ensure safe travel along national highways. This initiative is expected to reduce the number of accidents involving trucks and encourage regional staff and NGOs to set up such camps on regular basis.

The cleaners can also avail of this facility on the condition of producing a valid driving license. 50 free eye check-up camps will be set up on identified national highways on either side. The camps will be manned by eye specialist and support staff volunteers. Facilities like toilets and beverages vending machines, adequate space for parking of approximately 50 trucks, hand wash etc. shall be made available in these camps. One more component of these camps will be distribution of free spectacles up to a certain power as prescribed by the eye specialist. Any other defect like cataract will be identified and medicines will be prescribed. Non-governmental organizations, governments, social enterprises and private businesses are being roped in for facilitating the provision of these facilities.

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[Hindustani78]

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu being received by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, on his arrival, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu at an event to lay foundation stone for the improvement of National Highways and National Water Ways, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu unveiling the plaque to lay foundation stone for the improvement of National Highways and National Water Ways, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering at an event to lay foundation stone for the improvement of National Highways and National Water Ways, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering at an event to lay foundation stone for the improvement of National Highways and National Water Ways, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari addressing the gathering at an event to lay foundation stone for the improvement of National Highways and National Water Ways, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 03, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
05-October, 2017 14:59 IST
Plantation drive along National Highways

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has so far planted about 10 lakh plants along national highways in this monsoon season. This includes about 4 lakh avenue plants and about 6 lakh plants on the highway medians. The plantation drive is part of NHAI’s activity towards ensuring and upholding the cause of Swachh Bharat Mission in providing clean, green and pollution free National Highways. The drive is taken up as a regular activity during monsoons and continues even afterwards with watering and maintenance of the plants. Plantation work has been mainstreamed as an integral part of highway development projects, thereby ensuring that our highways remain clean, green and pollution free.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
06-October, 2017 13:54 IST
PM Shri Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone for four National Highways projects worth Rs 5825 Crore in Gujarat tomorrow

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for four National Highways projects worth Rs 5825 Crore at Dwarka in Gujarat tomorrow. Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari and MoS Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizer Shri Mansukh L Mandavia will accompany the Prime Minister.

PM will lay the foundation for construction of Cable Stayed Signature Bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha on NH-51. The project cost of the bridge is Rs 962 crore. The other projects for which foundation will be laid include 4 laning of 116.24 km of Porbandar-Dwarka section of NH-51 at a cost of Rs 1600 crore, 2/4 laning of 93.56 km of Gadu-Porbandar section of NH-51 at a cost of Rs 370 crore and 6 laning of 201.31 km Ahmedabad-Rajkot section of NH-47 and NH-27 at a cost of Rs 2893 crore.



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[Hindustani78]

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Foundation Stones laying ceremony of the bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha & other road development projects, in Gujarat on October 07, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Foundation Stones laying ceremony of the bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha & other road development projects, in Gujarat on October 07, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Foundation Stones laying ceremony of the bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha & other road development projects, in Gujarat on October 07, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Foundation Stones laying ceremony of the bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha & other road development projects, in Gujarat on October 07, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Foundation Stones laying ceremony of the bridge between Beyt Dwarka and Okha & other road development projects, in Gujarat on October 07, 2017. The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani and the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Nitinbhai Patel are also seen.

Prime Minister's Office
07-October, 2017 14:13 IST
PM offers prayers at Dwarkadheesh Temple; addresses public meeting in Dwarka


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today began his two-day visit in Gujarat by offering prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Temple at Dwarka.

The Prime Minister unveiled plaques to mark the laying of foundation stones for a bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka; and other road development projects.

The Prime Minister said he saw a new energy and enthusiasm in Dwarka today. He said the bridge whose foundation stone has been laid, is a means to reconnect with our ancient heritage. It will boost tourism, which will generate employment, he added, noting that development will be the key to promoting tourism.

The Prime Minister recalled how lack of infrastructure, led to difficulties and challenges for the people of Beyt Dwarka, some years ago.

The Prime Minister said that the development of the tourism sector cannot happen in isolation. He said that if we want to draw more tourists to Gir, we should also inspire the tourists to visit other nearby places like Dwarka.

Building of infrastructure should enhance economic activities and add to the atmosphere of development, the Prime Minister said. We want development of ports and port-led development; the blue economy should help further the progress of India, he added.

The Prime Minister said that the Government of India is taking steps towards the empowerment of fishermen. He said Kandla Port is seeing unprecedented growth because resources were devoted to improve the port. He said a new lease of life has been given to Alang, and steps taken for the welfare of the labourers working there.

The Prime Minister said that the Government is modernising the marine security apparatus. An institute for this will be set up in this Devbhoomi of Dwarka, he added.

Speaking on the decisions taken by consensus in the GST Council meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister said that when there is trust in a government and when policies are made with best intentions, it is natural for people to support us for the best interests of the nation.

The Prime Minister asserted that the Government wants to help fulfil the aspirations of the people, and fight poverty.

The Prime Minister said that the world's attention is being drawn to India, and people are coming to invest here. "I see Gujarat contributing actively to the development of India and congratulate the Gujarat Government," the Prime Minister added.

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