Rs 7,300 crore road projects approved in Naxal-affected areas

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said road projects worth Rs 7,300 crore have been approved for implementation in Naxal-affected areas over the next three years.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for road transport and highways R P N Singh said the government has approved a scheme for development of 1,202 kilometres of national highways and 4,363 kilometres of state roads in "Left Wing extremism-affected areas of 34 districts in eight states".

The projects will be completed during next three years at an estimated cost of Rs 7,300 crore, he said.

No projects for construction of two-lane highways in states have been affected due to Naxal violence, he added.

"State government agencies have prioritised construction of roads under Left Wing extremism areas, depending on their ability to provide enough security during the entire construction period," Singh said.