Chhattisgarh to invest Rs.10 bn on road network

Chhattisgarh is to invest Rs.10 billion for developing road networks in vast forested rural hamlets and in urban and semi-urban pockets.

Chief Minister Raman Singh will launch a special road project next month to mark the sixth anniversary of the creation of the state, which was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000.

"The government will pump in Rs.10 billion to develop roads in all 16 districts. The amount will mainly be invested in construction of new roads in inaccessible areas, repair and maintenance of national highways and state highways," a senior public works department (PWD) official told IANS.

He added that Chhattisgarh had implemented a steep hike in the road infrastructure outlay since the state came into existence.

"The government had a nearly Rs.1.5 billion budget for the creation of road infrastructure when the state was formed. Now the outlay has gone up to Rs.14.5 billion," said Public Works Minister Rajesh Munat.

"We are focusing on road infrastructure as it will help the government alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life by connecting people of remote areas, help them bring their farm and forest produce to urban markets and earn a good price for their products," the minister added.