Four laning of Rajsamand - Bhilwara section of National Highway NH- 758 in Rajasthan under NHDP Phase IV

Press Information Bureau: Oct 11, 2012The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the investment proposal for the implementation of the project for the development of four laning of 'Rajsamand - Bhilwara' section of National Highway NH-758 in Rajasthan under National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) Phase IV on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis in BOT (Toll) mode of delivery. The total project cost (TPC) estimated of the project for implementing under DBFOT pattern will be Rs.899.24 crore out of which Rs.221.45 crore will be for the land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction cost.

The total length of the project will be 87.250 kms is covered in the Districts of Rajsamand and Bhilwara in Rajasthan.

The main object of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in the state of Rajasthan, and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Rajsamand and Bhilwara. National Highway NH - 758 is an important corridor which links major cities of Rajasthan. It will also increase employment potential for the local labourers for project activities.

Background:The Cabinet, in its meeting held in July 2008 approved the proposal for up-gradation of 5,000 km under NHDP Phase IV-A. The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) constituted to finalize the Financing Plan for the entire NHDP, while deliberating on the Note for the up-gradation / strengthening of projects under NHDP Phase IV, in the 4th meeting of EGoM, held in March, 2010, decided that keeping in view of traffic justification, about 2,000 kms may be undertaken as four-laned stretches, out of total 20,000 kms under NHDP Phase-IV. Further, in the 5th meeting of EGoM, held in May, 2010, the EGoM also approved the provision of Rs.4,000 crores during the 11th plan period for the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for such stretches.

Keeping in view of traffic justification, additional 2,000 kms will be undertaken as four-laned stretches, in addition to the already approved by EGoM for 2000 km of four-laning under NHDP Phase-IV, permitting maximum of 4000 kms for four-laning. The CCI approved in February, 2012 a unified NHDP Phase - IV, for a length of 20,000 Km, subsuming within it the 5000 km already approved under NHDP Phase -1V-A.

The Rajsamand – Bhilwara project is one of the projects approved for 4-laning, included under NHDP Phase - IV, and within the ceiling of 4000 kms for four-laning.

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Third Phase of Small Development Projects (SDP-III) in Afghanistan

Press Information Bureau: Nov 08, 2012The Union Cabinet today approved the third phase of the Small Development Projects in Afghanistan. The outlay on the third phase of the Small Development Projects in US$ 100 million.

The outlay for the third Phase of the Small Developmental Projects is US$ 100 Million (approximately Rs.500 crore).

The Small Development Projects directly impact local communities and support social-economic development, provide livelihood, help conserve environmental and cultural heritage, empower women, promote child welfare and facilitate community life through creation of infrastructure in the education, health, agriculture and agro-industry, renewable energy, trade, transport and communication, recreation and community development sectors.

Local communities of Afghanistan would directly benefit from the Small Development Projects. Exact number of beneficiaries cannot be verified. This will cover all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

The Small Development Projects were earlier implemented in two phases: the first in July 2006 comprising 50 projects worth US$ 11,216,179; and the second in June 2008 comprising 51 projects worth US$ 8,579,537. Most of the projects in the two phases have been completed

Background:The projects will be implemented over a period of four years through local Afghan Government Bodies, Community Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Charitable Trusts and Education and Vocational Institutions. The expenditure on the projects will be met from the Non-Plan head of 'Aid to Afghanistan’ budget of the Ministry of External Affairs.

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