BHOPAL : Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, speaking at a meeting here on Saturday, said making roads accident-free should be given the topmost priority. He said deaths are caused on national highways due to faulty designs or faulty execution and any negligence in construction would be taken seriously. Gadkari directed to file first information report (FIR) against the culprit in such cases. He said the Central government is ready to provide funds for improvement in accident-prone areas. He also appealed to promote innovation in the field of road construction.
Union Minister said the government’s priority was to link National Highways with districts, religious spots and backward areas and build four lane roads where there is heavy traffic. He expressed his consent on sanctioning Rs 5000 crore for road maintenance to MP State Road Development Corporation.
Gadkari emphasised on promoting alternatives of diesel and petrol like ethanol, bio-diesel, bio-gas and electricity-run vehicles. He said e-Rickshaws would run in cities. He stressed on making procedures in Regional Transport Offices simple, based on information technology and transparent. He said attempts are being made to take financial help from Asian Development Bank to make bus stands across the state more systematic and advanced like airports. The work of road construction from Shivpuri to Devas, Rewa-Katni-Jabalpur and borders of Gujarat was reviewed in the meeting. Union Minister directed to the construction agencies working on roads from Obaidullahanj to Betul, Gwalior to Jhansi and Bhopal to Biaora to submit an action plan in a week’s time. Public Works Minister Sartaj Singh, Chief Secretary Antony DeSa, officials of Indian National Highways Authority and representatives of road construction companies attended the meeting.
