Chandigarh, July 14: While expressing gratitude to Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs, Mr Nitin Gadkari for dedicating various Highway projects as part of a new economic corridor worth Rs 20, 027 crore in the State, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal has also sought his intervention in resolving the long-pending issue with neighbouring State of Punjab regarding Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal so that Haryana could get its legitimate share of river water.
Mr Manohar Lal was speaking after Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Mr Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 11 Highway Projects through a web based function, here today. He urged Mr Gadkari to intervene and raise the SYL issue before the Centre Government for early resolution of this long pending issue in the interest of Haryana.
While Deputy Chief Minister Mr Dushyant Chautala, Cooperation Minister, Dr Banwari Lal, MP Mr Dharambir Singh were present on this occasion here, Health Minister Mr Anil Vij, Sports Minister Mr Sandeep Singh, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mr Omparkash Yadav, other MPs and MLAs joined the function through web link.
Earlier Mr Nitin Gadkari inaugurated three big road projects worth Rs 2240 crore. These included 35.45 km 4-lane Rohna/Hasangarh to Jhajjar section of NH 334B costing Rs 1183 crore, the 70 km 4-laning of Punjab-Haryana Border to Jind section of NH 71 costing Rs 857 crore, and the 85.36 km 2-lane with paved shoulders Jind-Karnal Highway on NH 709 costing Rs 200 crore.
Mr Gadkari also laid the foundation stone of 8 road projects costing Rs17,787 crore. These included 227 km 6-lane access controlled Greenfield expressway from Ismailpur to Narnaul on NH 152D in 8 packages costing Rs 8650 crore, the 46.11 km 4-lane Gurugram Pataudi-Rewari section of NH 352W costing Rs 1524 crore, the 14.4 km 4-lane Rewari Byepass costing Rs 928 crore, the 30.45 km 4-lane Rewari-Ateli Mandi section of NH 11 costing Rs 1057 crore, the 40.8 km 6-lane Narnaul Byepass on NH 148B, NH 11 and Ateli Mandi to Narnaul section of NH 11 costing Rs 1380 crore, the 40.6 km 4-lane Jind-Gohana (Pkg 1, Greenfield alignment) of NH 352A costing Rs 1207 crore, the 38.23 km 4-lane Gohana-Sonipat section of NH 352A costing Rs 1502 crore, and the 40.47 km 4-lane UP-Haryana Border to Rohna on NH 334B costing Rs 1509 crore.
While speaking on this occasion, Mr Gadkari said that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would spend Rs 2 lakh crore on the construction of new roads in Haryana in the next two years. He said that the Highway Projects of Rs 20, 027 crore which he dedicated to the people of Haryana today would open new vistas of development in the state and provide better road connectivity to the western part of the country and also neighbouring States of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. He said that apart from these road projects, the 687 km long Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway passing through Jind in Haryana would also benefit Haryana in a big way and also give a major boost to the State economy. He said that out of Rs one lakh crore being spent on the Delhi-Mumabi Industrial Corridor, Rs 55,000 crore is being incurred in Haryana.
While underlining the need for strong political will to bring revolutionary changes in the country through adopting the latest technology, Mr Gadkari said that there is no dearth of funds with the Centre Government for development. He said that Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi has called for focussed efforts to make India a 5 Trillion Dollar Economy and four factors–water, power, industry and connectivity are pivotal to achieve this vision.
Mr Gadkari who is also the Union Minister for MSMEs urged the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal to make separate schemes of Agro MSMEs, thereby, playing a vital role in the MSME economy of 5 lakh crore as envisaged by the Centre government in the next two years. He assured all necessary support and cooperation to Haryana in the formulation of these schemes which would not only ensure industrial development of villages but also provide employment to local youth. Mr Gadkari said that his aim is to create 5 crore new jobs in the MSME sector in the coming years.
While lauding the hard-working farmers of Haryana, Mr Nitin Gadkari said that Centre is also mulling ethanol economy of Rs one-lakh crore in the country in which Haryana has an important role to play. He said that this one-lakh crore would directly benefit the farming community of the country. He said with the technological advancements, special emphasis is also being laid on the use of bio CNG and ethanol besides diesel as it would help realizing the ‘Make in India’ dream of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi.
The Union Minister also urged Chief Minister Mr Mahohar Lal to develop new industrial clusters on the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor and said that Centre is ready to give all support to Haryana in this work.
The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal thanked Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs, Mr Nitin Gadkari for dedicating 11 new Highway Projects to Haryana and said that these road projects would give a major boost to infrastructural and economic development in the State. He said that various road projects worth Rs 53,000 crore are in progress in Haryana which would not only provide seamless connectivity within the State but also with other parts of the country.
He said that Haryana is far better placed in terms of industrialization and it has become a favourite destination for the entrepreneurs for investment. This is due to Haryana’s close proximity to National Capital Delhi and better road, rail and air connectivity. The State is also being largely benefited from the Kundli Manesar Palwal (KMP) Expressway and Kundli–Ghaziabad–Palwal (KGP) Expressway, he added.
He said that the special provision has been made in the budget for the construction of more Railway over Bridge (ROB) and Railway under Bridge (RUB) in the State. He said that in the last five years, 47 new ROBs/RUBs have been constructed in the State at a cost of about Rs 944 crore whereas work is in progress on 52 ROBs/RUBs with an estimated cost of Rs 1366 crore. Contrary to this, only 64 ROBs/RUBs were constructed in the State in the last 48 years. Apart from this, the State Government has also removed 17 toll barriers in the State.
Mr Manohar Lal further said that under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III, improvement works of 2500 kms long roads have been allocated out of which scheme has been prepared for the improvement of 1000 kms long roads in year 2020-21. He said that improvement of 29,406 kms long road has been done during the last five-and-a-half year’s tenure of the present State Government.
While emphasising the need of regular meetings between the State Government officials and officials of NHAI to sort out various issues to fast track road projects in Haryana, the Chief Minister said that he has recently requested Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Mr Nitin Gadkari through a letter to start work on 9 road projects in the State at the earliest. Apart from this, he has also requested him to expedite the work on elevated road in Palwal.
Mr Manohar Lal said that with a view to further promote Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) in the State, the State Government has created a separate MSME Department. He said that a scheme is also being prepared for the setting up of clusters in all 22 districts of the State wherein people would be encouraged to set up agro-based industries. Apart from this, the State Government has also made an arrangment of providing Mudra Loan under Shishu Category to those associated with the MSME sector. This loan facility would be extended to 5 lakh persons in the State. He said that recently he has also met Union Minister for Jal Shakti Mr Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and discussed various water related issues of the State.
Speaking on this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Dushyant Chautala described today as a historical day and said that these new 11 highway projects would take Haryana to new heights of development. He also thanked the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Mr Nitin Gadkari for dedicating these projects to the people of Haryana and said that under the guidance of Mr Gadkari; road network in the country has been further strengthened.
Union Minister of State for Raod, Transport and Highways General (Dr) V.K Singh said that in the year 2014, the total length of National Highways in Haryana was 2000 kms which has now increased to 3500 kms. He said that the construction of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway passing through Jind and Dwaraka Expressway would pave the way for the all-round development of Haryana.
Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme, Implementation and Planning Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Jal Shahkti Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Krishan Pal and NHAI Chairman Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu also spoke on this occasion.
Among those present on this occasion included MP Mr Dharmbir Singh, Chief Secretary Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (B&R) Mr Rajeev Arora and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar.