Gadkari Promises More Roads Worth Rs 50,000 Crore To Jharkhand

Addressing the Momentum Jharkhand Global Investors' Summit in Ranchi, Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday (February 16) said that over the next couple of years the state will see investments of Rs 50,000 crore in the highways sector.

"Our country imports natural resources worth $800 billion while Jharkhand is endowed with rich natural resources. If we harness these setting up Industries, Jharkhand is set to become a rich state with rich people," said the Union minister.

Gadkari went on to add that the Union government is committed to the development of the mineral-rich state and it has already increased the length of National Highways from 2,402 Km to 5,400 km.

Given the problems faced on Ranchi-Jamshedpur road, NHAI will ensure its completion by way of works worth Rs 1,000 crore, the minister added.

Coal and Mines Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the Centre plans to auction 30 mines in Jharkhand and the process is likely to start this fiscal.

"This year itself, we are hoping to auction at least 30 new mines in Jharkhand. It will be in bauxite, gold, diamond, emeralds and iron ore," he said at the summit.

The minster also highlighted that the Coal Ministry has commissioned the world’s largest single pit coal mine ‘Magadh’ which will lead the state to promote low cost manufacturing because of availability of power at cheaper rates.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has said the state will become a power hub by 2019 and provide energy to the country in the days to come.

Das said: “This is the most opportune time to invest in Jharkhand. In order to avail the advantages from the key policy reforms at the Centre, we have formulated policies, which are well aligned with the rapidly changing requirement of industry and other stakeholders. I can speak with conviction that our policies are among the most competitive policies in India and perhaps worldwide".