Bhilai, Sep 10, 2018: On Monday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping & Water Resources; River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) laid the foundation stone and dedicated several development projects including eight National Highway Projects and Flyovers worth Rs 4251 Crore during a gracious function held at Charoda. In his address, Gadkari said that the union government has provided almost Rs 35000 crore to Chhattisgarh for road constructions in last four years. He assured to give another Rs 40000 crore in the coming year. Gadkari further said that BJP Government has succeeded in ensuring corruption free system which enabled and smooth and accelerated development.
Gadkari further said that the Agriculture Development Rate in Chhattisgarh is recorded at 6% which is almost two percent higher than other states. At present the agriculture is limited to food grains, sugarcane and other edibles which are already surplus in the country. He suggested the farmers to include modern technology and explore substitutes of traditional farming. He anticipated that Chhattisgarh can emerge as Bio Fuel Hub as the forests here have abundance of non-edible oil giving trees like Jatropha; Karanj, Mahua, Neem, Kusum etc. All these trees are sources of Bio Fuel. If the state government establishes industries at local level for production of bio fuel, new employment opportunities can be generated for tribals and rural population. He informed that 100 tractors are being run with bio fuel in Maharashtra and recently a commercial flight was also operated with Bio Fuel. He further said that the paddy straw (Bhusa) can also be used for production of Ethanol, which is a bio fuel. Need of the hour is to conduct research and development and establish infrastructure for production of bio fuel.
Presiding over the function, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh expressed gratitude towards Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for development of network of roads in the state. Singh further said that the during the UPA rule at the centre, it was a tough job for him to get road projects sanctioned for Chhattisgarh. But after formation of BJP Government at the centre, all the proposals are being approved within no time by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He asserted that the network of roads developed in last four years is about 10 times of the roads constructed here in previous sixty years.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat said that the Union Ministry has extended great support for construction of road network in Chhattisgarh. Today even the remote areas of Chhattisgarh including Sukma, Kondagaon, Koriya, Jashpur, etc are connected with roads. MLA Sanwla Ram Dehre termed the function as an historic event for Bhilai Charoda. On demand of Chief Minister, the Union Minister gave approval for widening, renovation and repairs of 28 roads in the state. This approval is total worth Rs 2375 crore. The proposed projects include five new bypass roads in Kundagaon, Jagdalpur, Lakhanpur, Kawardha, and Bemetara. Raigarh to Dharamjaigarh road has been approved for inclusion in Bharatmala Project. Gadkari approved Rs 1759 Crore for repairs and development of 388 kilometers long six different roads.
The dignitaries performed foundation laying rituals of eight National Highways and Flyovers worth Rs 4251 Crore. They inaugurated Aarang – Saraipali National Highway; Raipur – Durg (NH 53) widening; Palika Bazar; Cultural Halls; Gardens on sides of GE Road etc. They performed bhoomipujan for Raipur – Durg Bypass (NH53); four flyovers on Durg – Raipur road and flyover at Tatibandh Junction.
Cabinet Minister Rajesh Munat; Prem Prakash Pandey, Ramsheela Sahu; MP Abhishek Singh, MLA Labhchand Bafna; MLA Sanwla Ram Dehre; MLA Vidyaratan Bhasin; MLA Vimal Chopda; Durg Mayor Chandrika Chandrakar and Bhiali Charoda Mayor Chandrakanta Mandale were present on the dais.