Gadkari flags off economic corridor projects worth Rs 20,000 cr in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Government of India on Tuesday, July 14, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 11 highway projects in Haryana worth over Rs 20,000 crore. The projects were launched through a web-based function presided over by Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana, as part of new economic corridors in the region. Gen (Retd) V K Singh, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Dushyant Chautala, Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana and Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh, Krishnapal Gurjar, and Rattan Lal Kataria, along with Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Chairman, National Highways Authority of India, senior officers of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and officers from Government of Haryana, participated in the virtual function.

Gadkari said that these projects would benefit people of Haryana a lot by providing smooth connectivity within the State as well as to other states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He added that these highways will pave the way for infrastructure development at large scale and farmers will get better access.

Khattar and Chautala thanked Gadkari for the massive investment in road infrastructure. He said the projects will benefit industries in the state and enhance economic progress.

Sandhu, while giving further information about the projects, said that 3 projects worth over Rs 2,240 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones for 8 projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore were laid.

The projects inaugurated include the 35.45 kilometre (km), 4-lane Rohna/Hasangarh to Jhajjar section of NH 334B costing Rs 1183 crore; the 70 km, 4-laning of Punjab-Haryana Border to Jind section of NH 71 costing Rs 857 crore; and the 85.36 km 2-lane with paved shoulders Jind-Karnal Highway on NH 709 costing Rs 200 crore.

Foundation stones were laid for eight projects including 227 km 6-lane access controlled Greenfield expressway from Ismailpur to Narnaul on NH 152D costing Rs 8650 crore; the 46 km 4-lane Gurugram Pataudi-Rewari section of NH 352W costing Rs 1524 crore; and the 14.4 km 4-lane Rewari Bypass costing Rs 928 crore. Khattar said that improved road connectivity would further stimulate industrial growth and foster state development.

Gadkari said that these important projects will decongest big cities reducing travel time. It will take about 2 hours to reach Delhi Airport from Chandigarh against the present 4 hours. He added that these projects will further speed up Haryana’s progress. He said Delhi-Amritsar-Katra highway via Jind and Delhi-Mumbai highway projects being built will also be beneficial for Haryana. The projects will also save time, fuel and cost, and also boost development in backward areas of the State.

Gadkari thanked the State Government, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other stakeholders. He said the projects linking Western India to the State will accelerate state industrialization. During the COVID-19 era, investment in highway projects and corridors would enable the state’s economy to recover. He stressed that funds and resources are secondary if one has self-confidence and dedication to work.

The state government should design industrial clusters around the green corridors and a separate people policy for agro MSMEs, Gadkari suggested. He also added that a Rs 5 lakh crore ethanol economy can be built in the nation, where Punjab and Haryana would play a crucial role.

General V. K. Singh praised Gadkari’s vision with regard to infrastructure and progress made since 2014. He said that before 2014, Haryana had 2000 kms of national highways, which has now been increased to over 3500 kms.