Morth is aggressive enough for land acquisition for Bharatmala, says its JS

No.PR-99

October 5, 2018

New Delhi

MORTH IS AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR LAND ACQUISITION FOR BHARATMALA, SAYS ITS JS

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on Friday asserted that it was aggressively going on the land acquisition drive to build well in time the targeted roads and highways under ‘Bharatmala project’ across the country since it has acquired 9,500 hectare of land for the purpose in 2017-18.

The aforesaid assertions were made by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Mr. Amit Kumar Ghosh at an Infrastructure Conclave under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here today adding that there won’t be any delay in Bharatmala’s project progress on account of land acquisition as the government has been pursuing the matter with all required seriousness and aggression.

The Joint Secretary though admitted that the cost of land acquisition to the government has been escalating for roads and highways projects including tunnel building under Bharatmala initiative but it would be compensated with insertion of latest technologies in roads and highways projects implementation.

In this direction not only inter-ministerial and inter-departmental consultations have been advancing and progressing as per optimum satisfaction of all the stakeholders but also the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways would also begin to write to states to facilitate the land acquisition for Bharatmala projects.<

Joint Secretary (Sagarmala), Ministry of Shipping, Mr. Kailash Kumar Aggarwal who also spoke on the occasion, however, pointed out that the necessary dots are being connected with progressive policy interventions so that the Sagarmala Project are accomplished as per government intention.

According to him, the private sector is also playing a critical role in creating and capacities in the port sector and hoped that as days’ advance, the private sector would still be more pro-active in its participation with the government initiatives for Sagarmala Project.

Adviser (Transport) & Director General, Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, Mr. Anil Srivastava was also present on the occasion and added that adoption of advance technologies would be critical for timely takeoff of all infrastructure projects be it Sagarmala or Bharatmala.

Sr. Vice President, PHDCCI, Mr. D K Aggarwal in his welcome remarks emphasized that a developed bond and credit market is essentially required to meet the gaps in funding requirements for infrastructure projects in which credit rating agencies need to play their role in equitable an fair manner.

Among others who also spoke on the occasion comprised Chair, Roads, Ports & Other Infrastructure Committee, PHDCCI, Mr. Ashish Mohan Wig; Secretary General, PHDCCI, Mr. Saurabh Sanyal and its Principal Director, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta.

Ends.

Koteshwar Prasad Dobhal

Consultant (PR)