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The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways today said that the Government is fully committed to fast-track development of infrastructure especially roads and ports so that the nation prospers and the poor get freed from clutches of poverty. He was delivering the inaugural address at a Conference organized by the Indian National Group of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), here. The theme of the three-day Conference is ‘Role of Structural Engineers Towards Reduction of Poverty’.
Speaking on the occasion, Thiru Baalu said that good infrastructure accelerates development process through connectivity and accessibility to facilities like water supply, sanitation, education and opening of backward regions to trade and investment. Infrastructure development activity is one of the best weapons to attack poverty as it provides opportunities for employment during construction stage as well as later through operations and maintenance works, the Minister stressed.
Complementing the IABSE for selecting an appropriate theme for their Conference, especially in the wake of devastating tsunami tragedy, Thiru Baalu urged upon the delegates to deliberate upon the design of protective structures that can be raised along the coast, especially the areas where tsunami waves wrecked havoc. He acknowledged the contribution of structural engineers in building infrastructure that leads to reduction in poverty.
Reiterating the Government’s focus on highways development, Thiru Baalu said that he is personally monitoring the progress of 14,000 km long NHDP Phase I and II so that the projects are completed with minimum delay and cost overrun. Thiru Baalu informed that the Public Investment Board (PIB) has already approved the NHDP Phase-III that will develop 10,000 km of National Highways at a cost of Rs. 55,000 crore, as well as the Accelerated North-East Road Development Project. Soon these Projects would be taken up by the Cabinet, he informed. For taking the fruits of development to the backward and far-flung areas, Thiru Baalu informed that the Govt. is also working on NHDP Phase-IV that will target National Highways not covered under NHDP Phase I, II and III. NHDP-IV envisages upgradation of nearly 21,000 km of single lane/intermediate lane National Highways to 2-lane with paved shoulders and the strengthening of nearly 17,000 km of exisiting 2-lane with construction of paved shoulders and the proposal is under final stages of formulation, the Minister disclosed.
IABSE was set up in 1929 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland. It has more than 4200 members in over 100 countries. The Conference is being attended by delegated from about 30 countries.
NSD
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