Punjab government launches Rs 13,000 crore road connectivity project

ROOPNAGAR: The Punjab government today launched a programme of Rs 13,000 crore to connect all major cities and towns in the state with 4/6 lane expressways, an official statement said.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the programme here after laying the foundation stone of Rs 240 crore project of four-laning of 55 kms Roopnagar-Chamkaur Sahib- Neelon-Doraha road along Sirhind Canal, it said.

Badal said the state has 1,739 km of National Highway of which 405 km have already been upgraded to 4 lane and the construction of 4/6 laning of more than 650 km of highways is on full swing.

He said this project would be completed with in a stipulated time frame of 18 months.

Badal said Punjab being a landlocked state, the SAD-BJP government has decided to develop best possible air and road connectivity as on rail link front, the state is always being ignored by the Congress-led UPA government.

The state government has chalked out an ambitious plan to construct quality roads along with the banks of major rivers and canals flowing through the state to provide shortest route to the people of the state, Badal said.

He added that these projects would have dual benefit as besides developing shortest routes, we would also be able to strengthen the embankments of these water channels thereby containing any flood like situation.

Badal also announced the 4 laning of Ropar to Jalandhar road, a vital link between Malwa and Doaba regions.

He assured to make Punjab No.1 state of the country on the front of infrastructure development.

He said the dream of SAD-BJP government to make Punjab power surplus is about to realize as 3 thermal plants are all set to start production of power from the very next year.

While revealing his vision for the future, the Deputy Chief Minister said Rs 10,000 crore project has been chalked out to provide safe drinking water along with sewerage facility to each house hold in all cities and towns of the state.