Chandigarh: The Haryana Government has initiated steps to formulate a strategy for decongesting urban stretches of National Highways to ease traffic pressure in cities across the state. Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa said that various financial models are being examined to determine the state government’s contribution towards bypass projects. The most suitable model will be selected for each project after assessing its specific requirements and cost, ensuring that development works are expedited while safeguarding the state’s financial interests.
He said that a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently discussed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ policy on decongestion of National Highways passing through urban areas. It was decided that instead of adopting a uniform financial model for all projects, decisions would be taken on a project-specific basis, keeping in view the requirements and estimated expenditure of each project.
Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa said that five options have been considered for the state’s financial contribution. These include an upfront contribution towards the project cost, sharing the cost of land acquisition, sharing land acquisition expenses along with reimbursement of the state’s share of GST, providing land through land pooling, and adopting Value Capture Financing (VCF).
The objective of this initiative is to develop a practical financial framework for bypass projects aimed at decongesting urban stretches of National Highways, thereby reducing traffic pressure in cities while ensuring that the state’s financial interests are adequately protected.
