Union Gov funds naxal affected areas road projects

Jharkhand: Road development projects, as proposed by State Governments in their respective Naxalite-affected areas, are now funded by the Union Government under annual budgetary allocation for National Highways and Central Road Fund.

Reports have it that Rs 7,300 crore will be spent on construction of 7,471 km of roads, comprising 4,560 km of state highways, 1,320 km of National Highways and 1,591 km of rural roads, in 33 districts identified in eight affected states.

The projects 8211; totalling 447.70 km and entailing an investment of Rs 408.67 crore – have already been sanctioned in half a dozen states. Of this, National Highways, across Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, will be 250.10 km and the State roads in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa will be about 197.60 km.