
Indian authorities have announced major road construction projects in the Mumbai metropolitian region and the state of Bihar.
A total of INR210 crore (US$24.4m) has been set aside by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for two road projects in Kalyan East, according to the Times of India. Shrikant Shinde, the Lok Sabha MP of Kalyan, was quoted in the newspaper that the tender process for the projects in the Kalyan Rural and Kalyan East assembly constituencies will start soon.
The first initiative involves the cementing and widening of the U-type road at an estimated cost of INR76 crore (US$8.8m), while the second involves the construction of a cement road on the Malang Road stretch from Chetna School to Nevali Naka at a sanction of INR124 crore (US$14.4m).
In a separate initiative Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is launching projects worth about INR72bn (US$836.25m) in the state of Bihar. The Times of India reported that the PM will lay the foundation stone for a four-lane Ara bypass from Asni to Bampali on NH-319, costing INR 1.38bn (US$16.03m), and inaugurate a four-lane road from Parriya to Mohania in Kaimur, built at a cost of INR 8.28bn (US$96.16m), and a two-lane paved shoulder road worth INR 1.10bn (US$12.77m) from Sarwan to Chakai as part of NH-333C. Additionally, railway projects are worth INR 53.98bn (US$626.82m), while road and transport projects are worth INR 11.73bn (US$20.10m).
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Jaiswal was quoted in India's Economic Times as saying that the projects are related to diverse sectors, including national highways and roads, railways and rural development, animal husbandry and dairy farming, and Information Technology.