Get ready to pay toll tax on three state highways

August 19, 2013

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LUCKNOW: Get ready to pay toll tax on at least three state highways (SHs) in east UP with the state public works department (PWD) all set to hand over these state highways to private concessionaires for their development and maintenance.

The three stretches, mainly in east UP, which have been selected for development by the private sector include Farenda-Jarwal in Gonda (SH-1A), Basti-Mehndawal-Kaptanganj-Tumkuli in Kushinagar (SH-64) and Gorakhpur-Maharajganj (SH-81). The stretches totaling around 200 Kms have been identified for they being the high traffic density stretches. PWD sources said that one stretch in west UP — Muzzaffarnagar-Saharanpur – too is proposed to be broadened with private participation.

Principal secretary, PWD, Rajneesh Dubey said that as per the condition laid down the stretches will be four laned and will have paved shoulders (an extra lane for vehicles to stop).

“The state government will soon start the process of development of these stretches on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model. The state government, in all, has proposed to take up broadening of 1300 Kms of state highways in the state. The other 1,100 state highways will be taken up with the help of state funds.

Dubey said that the state government will be providing funds for development of other state highways. For example, Mau-Ballia state highways is proposed to be four lane using state funds. So will be the case with Bareilly-Badaun which will be broadened by two lanes with the help of state funds.

The state has 83 state highways stretching over a length of over 7500 Kms. Of this more than 1300 Kms are only seven meters broad, that is they are two lane. Dubey said that the state government has already sanctioned funds for broadening of around 670 Kms of state highways. ‘”Work on the said stretches are already under construction and are proposed to be completed in the next few years,” he said. More over, Dubey said, the state government will also begin the work on construction of inter state highways that will connect UP with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Construction of roads have been taken up on a priority basis by the UP government considering the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that construction wing of the PWD has been asked to prepare the detailed project reports of all state highways which are proposed to be widened in the next few years. At the same time some of the state highways are gradually proposed to be handed over to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

State highways which are proposed to be developed on a public-private-partnership basis

Source-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com