CCEA approves highway projects worth Rs 9,500 crore

NEW DELHI: The government today approved three highway projects worth Rs 9,500 crore in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, including those connecting Varanasi -- the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In total..the CCEA today approved the strengthening and widening of 455 kms of National Highways with a total capital cost of about Rs 9,500 crore," an official statement said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the four-laning of the Sultanpur-Varanasi section of National Highway-56 in Uttar Pradesh with a total cost of around Rs 3,800 crore, it said.

"This will substantially upgrade Varanasi's connectivity to Lucknow and other parts of Central Uttar Pradesh," it said.

The second project relates to four-laning of the Varanasi to Ghazipur, Gorakhpur and further to Nepal section of National Highway-29 in UP.

This is likely to improve regional connectivity and facilitate improved movement of people and goods in the region and across the border.

"The four laning of this 200 kms will have a total capital cost of approximately Rs 4,400 crore," it said.

The third project relates to four laning/two laning of the Madurai-Ramanathapuram section of National Highway-49 in Tamil Nadu.

"This work will be under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-III for a total length of 115 kms with a total capital cost of about Rs 1,400 crore," it said.

The project is likely to be completed in two and half years from the date of award.

The pro-active steps will also strengthen the national highways network across the country, especially in regions where there has been a chronic shortfall.