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Nearly Rs 1,000 crore for 12 Punjab road corridors
By A Business Correspondent
The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and PWD (B&R) plan to upgrade high traffic corridors in the state through public-private partnership. The total length of the 12 proposed corridors is about 879 km. The estimated cost of improvement of these corridors is Rs 975 crore.
PIDB intends to take up these projects on BOT basis, on least grant/subsidy model. It will provide financial assistance to the projects through the Infrastructure Fee. It is also proposed to include operation and maintenance of the roads along with their upgradation so that subsequent O&M costs and overlays are taken care of through tolling. All the projects are likely to be completed by July 2005. Bids are being invited for these projects shortly.
In addition, PIDB will take up construction of 20 rail over bridges where the Railways have agreed to share the cost.
The state government claims to have spent Rs 600 on phase-I of the road development programme.
Contact: Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, S.C.O. No.89-90, Sector 34, Chandigarh. Tel: 665410, 665417 & 665395; E-mail: mdpidb@glide.net.in
Two-lane bridge over river Sarsa opened
Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways Major-General B.C. Khanduri (retd) has inaugurated a two-lane bridge over river Sarsa in Punjab. The construction of the 334-metre bridge was started in 1998. Along with the bridge, 3-km approach roads have also been constructed. The total cost of the project was Rs 12.20 crore.
Refuting claims made by the Punjab government that the Centre was not releasing funds for development in the state, the minister said during the past four years Punjab had received Rs 164.34 crore under the Central Road Fund programme. Under this programme, 76 works involving Rs 160 crore have been sanctioned and work on about 45 projects has been completed.
Nearly Rs 1,000 crore for 12 Punjab road corridors
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