Raipur, 22 May
2017
Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has given instructions to stop collection
of toll tax on bridges constructed by PWD from state's budget. In the review
meeting of PWD held at his resident office, Dr Raman Singh directed the
officials concerned to stop collection of toll tax on those bridges, for which
currently there is provision of Rs 5 lakh annual recovery. This announcement of
Chief Minister will benefit vehicles and heavy vehicles on more than 1000
bridges of state.
It is noteworthy
that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, State Government's
PWD department has constructed nearly 965 bridges in state in last 13 years,
from year 2004 to year 2017. In the first three years of Chhattisgarh state
formation i.e. from year 2000 to year 2003, total 66 bridges were built and
before formation of Chhattisgarh state i.e. from year 1978 to year 2000, total
89 bridges were constructed by PWD department in 22 years. Dr Singh immediately
approved the PWD's proposal to keep those state-sanctioned bridges toll-free,
the annual toll recovery of which is not more than Rs 5 lakh. He asked the
department officials about the amount of toll recovered from such bridges. On
which, officials informed that only 11 crore is recovered annually. Dr Singh
considered this amount to be really small and said that for the larger interest
of public, such bridges should be made toll free. During the review, Department
officials informed that in year 2007-08, 32 bridges with toll recovery of less
Rs 5 lakh annually were made toll-free.
In the
three-hour long meeting of PWD held today, Chief Minister reviewed in detail
the official works and activities of the department. He especially emphasized
on timely completion of those construction works, for which the time-limit has
been given till year 2017 and June, 2018. In the meeting, PWD Minister Mr.
Rajesh Moonat, Chief Secretary Mr. Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to Chief
Minister Mr. Aman Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Finance Department Mr.
Amitabh Jain, PWD Secretary Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, Managing Director of
Chhattisgarh Road Development Corporation Mr. Anil Rai, Chief Engineer PWD Mr.
DK Pradhan, and other senior officials were also present.
PWD Secretary
Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh gave presentation on Departmental works. He informed
that Chhattisgarh Road Development Corporation has taken up projects of 27
roads of total 889 km, for which administrative sanction of Rs 3238 has been
received. Agencies for 22 out of 27 roads have also been finalized. The input
cost of construction of these 22 roads of 648km is Rs 2182 crore. Construction
many roads is progress. In the second phase of loan support provided by Asian
Development Bank (ADB), construction of 18 roads at the cost of Rs 2200 is in
progress. Corporation has signed contract for Rs 2211 crore for construction of
856 km, out of which construction of roads of 511 km and 1410 bridges-culverts
have been completed. In the third phase of ADB, Chhattisgarh Road Development
Corporation has prepared proposal of nearly Rs 5500 crore for construction of
38 roads. Chief Minister directed the officials to discuss the proposal with
ADB soon and finalize the proposed action plan.
Joint Secretary
to Chief Minister Mr. Rajat Kumar informed in his presentation that State
Government is nearing the completion of Chief Minister Dash Board, wherein
latest updates of construction works of all departments, right from sanction
status to progress, will be made available online. Right from Ministers,
Secretaries to Chief Engineer and Engineer of the construction departments will
stay connected with this dash board through mobile app. Chief Minister will
himself review the progress of these construction works on dash board and give
online remark on the same.
number-845/Swarajya/Sana
