Jaipur:
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a law on state highway that provides for declaration, development, operation, safety and regulation of 20,000 km road network on PPP model in five years of BJP rule.
Replying on a brief debate on the bill titled "The Rajasthan State Highways Bill, 2014", the Public Works Department(PWD) Minister Yunus Khan, said a new State Highway Authority would be constituted within a month to initiate this programme in a time bound manner.
The Authority would be a much improved version of NHAI as it will have more comprehensive functions and powers to build and operate the state highways, Mr Khan said.
Another unique feature of the legislation was introduction of a control zone comprising a strip of hundreds of width along the road, he said, adding while no construction would be allowed within 25 metres of the road boundary, development in the remaining seventy five metres will be permitted as per rues to be made by the state government.
The Bill would enable the State Highway Authority to regulate traffic and take other measures to improve safety and smooth flow of traffic on the highways, the minister said.
In her budget for 2014-15, the Chief Minister has announced to build 20,000 km roads with a financial outlay of Rs 70,000 crore, the minister said.
A toll policy would be drafted after completion of civil works by the authority, and thirteen private bidders have offered to build the roads in the first phase of 8290 kms in the state, he said.
A showcase of the Highway Projects would be presented in Delhi around August 15 to attract investment, he said.
A sum of Rs 200 crore was earmarked for a feasibility report and a Detailed Project Report in the first phase, he said, adding the Centre's funds would also be sought later on.