(a) whether the Government has formulated any policy to link all the important religious and spiritual places through National Highways (NHs);
(b) if so, the policy-decision include Char Dhams, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pura Mahadev, Badagaon to be linked through a shortest possible route; and
(c) the present status of construction/ upgradation of Delhi-Saharanpur-Yamunotri highway as National Highway?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) Yes Madam. The Ministry has formulated “Bharatmala” Pariyojana with a view to improve the road connectivity to coastal / border areas, backward areas, religious places, tourist places, construction / rehabilitation / widening of about 1,500 major bridges and 208 Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) / Railway Under Bridges (RUBs) on NHs and improvement of newly declared NHs providing connectivity to District Head Quarters. Bharatmala Pariyojana is yet to be approved.
(b) The Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Chardham, Rishikesh and Haridwar are already connected with existing NH network. There is no programme to connect Pura Mahadev and Badagaon with NH network. However, these two places are near to existing new NH No. 334B.
(c) Ministry has approved “In-Principle” declaration of road from Delhi-Saharanpur as new National Highway subject to the following conditions:-
(i) approval/consent of the State Government for declaring the road as new NH;
(ii) furnishing of an undertaking from the State Government that no contractual liabilities shall be passed on to the Government of India/ Ministry of Road Transport and Highways with reference to the PPP contract/concession currently under execution.
Requisite approval/consent/undertaking from State Government is awaited.
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