Raipur, November 08, 2024/ Within two years, the National Highway network of Chhattisgarh will be equal to the American network, today I assure you that all the demands you have made for the state of Chhattisgarh will be given. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari said these things at the inauguration program of the 83rd annual convention of the Indian Road Congress being organized in Raipur today. On this occasion, he approved works worth Rs 20 thousand crore for the development of roads in Chhattisgarh. These also include approval of DPR for four lanes in four national highways. Shri Gadkari announced sanction of funds for four-laning of National Highways from Dhamtari to Jagdalpur, Raipur to Balodabazar-Sangarh, Katghora to Ambikapur and Bilaspur to Akaltara-Raigarh to Odisha Border. He also sanctioned funds for the construction of several single lane and two lane roads in Chhattisgarh. Shri Gadkari also announced sanction of funds for construction of flyovers at Sarona, Udyog Bhawan, Telibandha and Dhaneli Junction in Raipur. He also approved one time improvement works of three roads. Shri Gadkari also announced Rs 900 crore from the Central Road Fund (CRF) for the construction of roads.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, while inaugurating the session of the Indian Road Congress at the Science College campus in Raipur today, said that I consider all the engineers from different states of the country in the Indian Road Congress as Vishwakarma of the country. . You all have a huge contribution in building the nation. Our Prime Minister's mission is to make India a 5 trillion economy. Make a self-reliant India. For this we will have to progress in industry and agriculture. For this we will have to improve the transport infrastructure. When capital investment comes in this area, employment will be created and poverty will be eradicated and India will become self-reliant. Your quality work will have an important contribution in fulfilling this dream, for this research will have to be adopted in the country and abroad. Converting knowledge into wealth is the future.
Shri Gadkari told the engineers attending the convention that they should save as much public money as possible, technology will be very useful in this. An important thing has started in Chhattisgarh. We started making a bamboo crash barrier from here. No need to use steel, it is eco friendly. You should use bamboo crash barriers instead of iron in entire Chhattisgarh, this will encourage village farmers to use bamboo. We have made bio vitamins from stubble and it is being used in Meghalaya. Recently in Panipat, we started making one thousand liters of bio vitamins and bio aviation fuel from stubble. If it is made from stubble or para, great work will be done in Chhattisgarh.
Shri Gadkari said that we will have to make a lot of efforts to reduce road accidents. Try not to have accidents. Adopt all technical measures for this. It would be much better if we improve road engineering by implementing small things. I request you to make perfect roads in terms of road safety. Give top priority to road safety.
While presiding over the inaugural program of the convention, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai said that we have to develop and also maintain the balance of the environment. In our country, the transport sector contributes 40 percent to the country's pollution. I would request the officials of IRC to think about this sector from an integrated approach. We will have to build toilets on the roadside.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that it is a matter of great happiness for us that Chhattisgarh has got the privilege of hosting the 83rd session of the Indian Road Congress. Our happiness has doubled to have Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari among us in this program. With the desire to make its place among the developed states of India, Chhattisgarh is moving forward at a very fast pace. He said that we are continuously getting support and encouragement from Shri Gadkari ji. Recently, he has approved very important road projects worth Rs 11 thousand crore for Chhattisgarh. For this I thank him wholeheartedly.
The Chief Minister said that on November 01, we have completed the 24th year of establishment of the state and have now entered the silver jubilee year. The illustrious Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set the target of building a developed India by the year 2047. Accordingly, the state of Chhattisgarh is moving ahead with the resolve to build a developed Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh has prepared its vision document, according to which we are moving towards our goals in a very strategic and systematic manner. At such a time, we are excited by organizing the 83rd Indian Roads Congress in Chhattisgarh. He said that by the year 2028, we have decided to double the GSDP of Chhattisgarh to Rs 10 lakh crore.
The Chief Minister said that roads will be our biggest strength to build a strong economy in Chhattisgarh. In the geographical conditions of the state, expansion of roads is more convenient than other means of transport. In the last 10 years, there has been good development of National Highways in Chhattisgarh, many important projects including Raipur-Vishakhapatnam Economy Corridor are going on at a fast pace.
The Chief Minister said that our biggest priority is to lay a network of roads in rural areas. We are connecting even the most inaccessible areas of the state with main roads. The Chief Minister said that in this vast area, we want to do this challenging work in less time, less cost but in a sustainable and quality manner. Our vision is not just to build roads, but to build good roads. We are eager to adopt such road construction techniques which are more environment friendly. We are committed to greater adoption of green energy and are keen to explore how green energy can be harnessed more in the field of road construction and road safety.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Shri Ajay Tamta, while addressing the inaugural program of the convention, said that a network of roads is being laid in India from the Himalayas to the sea. We all are working with the aim of making India a developed nation by 2047.
Deputy Chief Minister and Public Works Minister Shri Arun Sao said in his address that Chhattisgarh is blessed with immense blessings of nature. Along with big rivers, mountains and forests, there are reserves ranging from coal to diamonds. Chhattisgarh has been the place of penance and the place of work of many saints and mahatmas. He said that after becoming a separate state, Chhattisgarh has developed rapidly in every field. With the help of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, a network of roads is being laid in Chhattisgarh. Shri Sao expressed hope that in this 83rd session of the Indian Road Congress, experts from across the country will brainstorm about the research, innovation, new machinery and new technologies being done in the country and the world regarding road construction and road safety and solve the problems of this sector. Will take meaningful initiative in getting it out.
The inauguration program of the Indian Road Congress was attended by Shri D. Sarangi, Director General of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Secretary of the Public Works Department in the Government of Chhattisgarh, and Shri K.K., President of the Indian Road Congress. Pipri and General Secretary Shri S. Of. Nirmal also addressed. In the inaugural session today, three guidelines and a manual prepared by the Indian Road Congress related to road construction and road safety were also released. The guests also released a souvenir of the Indian Road Congress in the programme.
