Cabinet nod to six-laning project

In a further thrust to the six laning of highways, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved on Thursday the upgrade of existing four-laned national highways to six lanes at a cost of Rs 5,610.77 crore (Rs 56.10 billion).

The national highways selected for upgrade include -- Gurgaon-Jaipur, Surat-Dahisar, Chilkaluripet-Vijaywada and Panipat-Jalandhar. These four stretches together measure about 838 km.

The CCEA's decision comes after the public private partnership appraisal committee of the ministry for road transport and highways, recently approved five stretches for six laning under phase V of National Highway Development Project.

The length of the Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur stretch in Haryana/Rajasthan on NH-8 is 225 km and the estimated project cost is Rs 1,517 crore (Rs 15.17 billion).

The other stretch is also on NH-8, the 239-km stretch between Surat and Dahisar, whose estimated project cost is Rs 1,355 crore (Rs 13.55 billion). The third is the 82.5-km stretch between Chilkaluripet and Vijaywada on NH-5, and its projected cost is Rs 540.30 crore (Rs 5.4 billion). The fourth one is at NH-1, the 291-km-long Panipat-Jalandhar stretch. The estimated cost of this is Rs 2,198 crore (Rs 21.98 billion).

In an another decision, the CCEA approved a proposal to modify the special package for livestock and fisheries in 31 suicide-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. In Andhra Pradesh, the cost of breeding services will be Rs 650 per animal against an amount of Rs 500 per animal provided for the same in special package.

The additional amount required will be met from the amount available for artificial insemination. Instead of 10 fodder block making units, which involve a financial outlay of Rs 4.26 crore (Rs 42.6 million) over three years approved for Andhra Pradesh, the Cabinet gave the permission to set up two fodder block making units at a cost of Rs 85 lakh (Rs 8.5 million).

Other decisions

• The Cabinet cleared the creation of a Consulate General in Guangzhou in China to promote India's strategic, economic and political interests.
• It also approved the placing of a contract worth up to Rs 297 crore (Rs 2.97 billion) with European space launch company Arianespace for launching satellites.
• The Cabinet approved amendment of the term 'enemy' for Shasatra Seema Bal. Under the new definition, SSB would now be able to detain any person who is expected to cause an act that is detrimental to the state's security.
• The Cabinet also discussed the grim flood situation in 20 states which has so far claimed 1,500 lives. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today ordered quick disbursal of funds to provide immediate succor to the affected people.