Union minister of road transport and highways, Kamal Nath has given in-principle approval for the four-laning of 17.5-km Bathinda-Ghuda road under the Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme, which will cost Rs 18 crore during the current fiscal.
A decision to this effect was taken by Kamal Nath in a meeting with Punjab chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal held in New Delhi.
The CM also apprised Kamal Nath that the Centre had calculated the annual accruals under CRF scheme considering 30% fuel consumption and 70% area of the state whereas previously it was used to be calculated considering 60% fuel consumption and 40% of the area.
Accordingly, the annual accruals have been reduced from Rs 76.79 crore to Rs 48.69 crore during the year 2009-10 for Punjab . By considering the new formula, smaller states like Punjab have been discriminated in the allocation of funds under CRF scheme, Badal pleaded.
He also mentioned during 2009-10, the ministry of road transport and highways had approved the projects under CRF scheme amount to Rs 126.64 crore only against the proposals of Rs 225.8 crore submitted by the state PWD. Badal urged Nath to approve these projects worth Rs 99.16 crore at the earliest which were still pending with the ministry.