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Badal orders to revamp link road network in Punjab |
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Punjab Newsline Network
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
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CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday ordered an ambitious Rs.1225 crore plan for expanding and upgrading link roads network in Punjab and modernizing its agricultural marketing infrastructure in the state.
A decision to this effect was taken here at a high level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here this morning.
Disclosing this here Tuesday Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said that while existing link roads measuring 7200 KM would be repaired at a cost of Rs.600 crore, the network would be expended by adding 1500 KM of new link roads. This would entail an additional expenditure of Rs.225 crore during the current financial year.
The Chief Minister ordered that new link roads measuring 20 KM be constructed in each of the 108 rural constituencies in the state as per prescribed norms of rural population. Mr. Bains said that the Punjab Agricultural Marketing Board has been asked to undertake the modernization of agriculture marketing infrastructure through out the state. The task would be completed within the next two years at a cost of Rs.400 crore to strengthen the agri-marketing base. A sum of Rs.75 crore has been earmarked to provide post harvest technology links, granting of power transmission lines, cooling and ripening chambers to ensure hassle free marketing of fruit and vegetables, apart from minimizing the losses on account of transit of these perishables. The facility would also help the vegetables and fruit growers to realize maximum profits of their produce. The Chief Minister also asked the Mandi Board to make the field engineering staff accountable for the quality for the road and timely implementation of the allotted works.
"This is the first time in the last decade that such a comprehensive revamp of rural road network is being undertaken. We intend to change the face of rural connectivity and strengthen the logistics for giving a new push to the farm economy of the state," said Mr. Badal in a statement. |
