Responding to the state government’s four 4- lane highway project proposals, the National Highway Authority of India( NHAI) has reportedly started a survey to study their feasibility.

These four 4-lane project proposals, submitted by Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh to NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav in a meeting inside the state secretariat in Ranchi on Monday, are as follows.

1.Basukinath- Dumka-Rampur hat
2.Ranchi- Deoghar- Sahibgunj road
3.Ranchi- Chaibasa
4.Jamshedpur to Dhanbad till West Bengal border.

Inquiry revealed that NHAI is involved in the construction of Rs 53,000 crores worth of highway projects in Jharkhand. This includes ongoing construction of highway projects worth Rs 13,000 crores to be started in the current financial year.

The pressure on NHAI is to start construction of the pending high projects worth Rs 17,000 crores. The construction works of about Rs 11,000 worth high way projects were successfully completed.

A point to take note of is this. If NHAI projects are completed in time, the state government will benefit from the payment of 9 percent GST i.e. worth 4.5 thousand crore, in addition to the highways constructed inside the boundary of Jharkhand.

Often, the delay is caused by land acquisition and forest clearance, a tough task that primarily rests on the state government.

Against this backdrop, the NHAI is studying the feasibility of 4- highway project proposals submitted by the state government.

The Monday meeting between NHAI and the state government was attended among others by NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh, and Principal Secretary( Road), Jharkhand, Sunil Kumar.