Tuesday, 08 June 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Rawat meets Union ministers Gadkari, Prasad & veteran leader Joshi
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat has sought approval for proposals worth Rs 615.48 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and declaration of six state highways along with the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala highways as national highways. Rawat presented these demands while meeting the Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari in the national Capital on Monday. Rawat also met the Union Electronics and Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
While meeting Gadkari, the chief minister sought approval for 42 proposals worth Rs 615.48 crore under CRIF. He said that the Road Transport and Highways ministry had granted approval in principle to declare six state highways as national highways. Informing that the state has provided the necessary proposals on time to the centre, he requested that these highways be notified soon as national highways. These roads include 34 kilometre Khairna-Ranikhet, 49 kilometre Buakhal-Devprayag, 70 kilometre Devprayag-Gaja-Khadi, 64 kilometre Pandukhal-Nagchulakhal-Ufrikhal-Baijron, 33 kilometre Biharigarh-Roshanabad and 274 kilometre Lakshmanjhula-Dugadda-Nainidanda-Mohan-Ranikhet roads. Rawat said that the Rishikesh-Bhaniawala motor road is important as it is a short link for those travelling to the Char Dham shrines. The Dehradun airport is also located between Rishikesh and Bhaniawala. He further said that the state highway 24 is used for travelling between Rishikesh and Dehradun. Being a double-lane road, it is inadequate for high traffic density. Widening this road will enable convenient access to all Char Dhams from the Dehradun airport. However, since it is not notified as a national highway, it is being excluded from schemes of the Road Transport and Highways ministry. Considering the importance of this road, Rawat requested Gadkari to declare it a national highway. The Union minister assured that solutions will be reached after thorough consideration of all the demands. The centre will provide all possible assistance for the convenience of pilgrims to the Char Dham.
While meeting Union minister Prasad, the chief minister said that approval in principle had been received earlier for the Bharat Net Phase II project under a state led model. He requested that administrative and financial approval also be granted for the same. He also sought approval for India Enterprise Architecture (IndEA) which will help in computerisation of works in the agriculture, health, education and other departments. The chief minister also sought approval for creation of 78 posts of notaries for 10 districts and approval to the proposal sent for creation of four notary posts in Nainital district.
Rawat also made a courtesy visit to former Union minister and veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi at his residence.
