Vasundhara Raje's pet Road Law gets Assembly's go ahead
Most of the highways in the state have remained unregulated. One finds trucks mostly overloaded plying in all lanes.
Rajasthan Assembly on Friday passed the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's pet road law- the Rajasthan State Highways Bill, 2014.
This has paved way for laying 20,000 kilometres of roads under public-private partnership (PPP) by setting up a state highway authority.
"This is the most ambitious programme in road sector ever undertaken by any state," claimed Yoonus Khan, Public Works Minister, after the bill was cleared.
This authority, government claims, will be the improved version of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with more powers and comprehensive functions. "It is a multifaceted and comprehensive road law and will set state on highway of growth," he said.
The authority will work on a business model which will use Centre and state grants besides availing market borrowings and private investment.
NHAI has been facing severe criticism for failing to maintain its highways in the state despite charging heavy toll taxes. Taking a serious note of the poor conditions of the highways in the state, the Rajasthan High Court has also questioned the hefty toll taxes.
Most of the highways in the state have remained unregulated. One finds trucks mostly overloaded plying in all lanes. That makes it impossible for other vehicles to drive on high speed.
The ambulances, patrol and assistance services as promised in the contracts of private builders with NHAI are rarely practiced.
The new law promises to take care of such ills by strictly enforcing traffic regulations.
The new roads will have no construction zone within 25 metres but next 75 metres will have regulated construction to ensure orderly development to make highways look attractive, generate jobs and various services and amenities for travellers.
One of the best roads built in the state have been during Vasundhara Raje's previous tenure between 2003 and 2008 whereas Congress regime between 2008-13 has been infamous for poor roads.
Raje has assured a 12 per cent growth for the state and her road project is considered to emerge as one of the main contributor in it.