Government approves Rs 6,429 crore road projects in 4 states including J&K

NEW DELHI: The government has approved eight highways projects worth Rs 6,429 crore in four states including the strategic Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir connecting Leh to Srinagar.

"Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee in its meeting last night has approved eight highways projects in four states - Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, mostly to be built under build, operate and transfer (BOT) toll mode," a Highways Ministry official told reporters.

These eight projects include 6.5 km long Z- Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh highway, the fourth strategic tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir to be built at a cost of Rs 773 crore, he said.

The tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity to the people of the Ladakh region, he added.

The other approved projects include three highway schemes in Rajasthan including Rs 668-crore Rajsamand-Bhilwara, Rs 530-crore Rajasthan border-Salasar project and Rs 332-crore Jodhpur-Pali highways scheme.

The official said of the remaining four projects, three schemes -- Rs 1,282-crore Chakari-Allahabad, Rs 909-crore Hadia-Varanasi and Rs 605-crore Kashipur-Sitarganj - for widening of roads are in Uttar Pradesh.

Besides, the PPEAC also approved four-laning of Hubri-Hospet 77 km stretch in Karnataka to be built at a cost of Rs 1,330 crore.