Delhi to spend Rs 440 crore on roads, afforestation

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Tuesday approved 23 projects worth Rs.440 crore, of which a lion's share of Rs 331 crore will be spent on the public works department's ( PWD) battered roads.

"The expenditure finance committee ( EFC) has sanctioned 23 projects amounting to Rs.440 crore," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, after presiding over a meeting of the committee.

Of the 23 projects, 20 are of the PWD and the rest are of the departments of forest, social welfare and irrigation and flood.

Besides roads, the rest of the amount has been earmarked for works such as tree plantation, afforestation and construction of homes for the mentally challenged.

Talking to reporters, Dikshit said: "The roads transferred by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to the PWD are not in good shape. The condition of the roads is not satisfactory and they require urgent improvement, strengthening, widening and upgradation."

While repair of 11 roads in east Delhi's trans-Yamuna area will cost Rs 148.55 crore, an amount of Rs 154.42 crore has been earmarked for seven roads in south and west Delhi.

In north Delhi, two roads will be repaired at a cost of Rs 28 crore.

Dikshit expressed confidence that the projects would be completed within the shortest possible time.

The EFC also sanctioned an amount of Rs 47.63 crore for the construction of five homes for the mentally challenged.

Dikshit said the project for rehabilitation of degraded forest land in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and Dera Mandi was a challenging one.

"The area is rocky and spread out. It requires extra labour and attention," she said.