New Delhi, Nov 13: The Vajpayee government has sanctioned more than Rs 120 crore from the central road funds (CRF) for repair and construction of major roads under the national highways scheme. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways B C Khanduri informed Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 22 crore under the CRF for the construction of new roads.
The ministry would consider on priority to convert the roads between Sambalpur-Bargarh and Bhubaneswar-Puri into four lanes.
Patnaik urged the union minister to release funds for the repair of roads affected by the floods and declare twelve more roads national highways in the state.
Patnaik said that additional release of Rs 38 crore from the CRF would be considered in due course of time.
The ministry also sanctioned nine projects worth Rs 48.38 crore. The Centre released Rs six crore immediately for the repair of other flood-affected national highway roads.
Regarding declaring Khurda-Bolangir and other roads as national highways, Patnaik said, ''the matter would receive due consideration by the ministry,'' quoting Khanduri.
Bureau Report