Aiming to spur progress and development in the worst Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district, the Maharashtra government has taken up construction of strategic inter-state river bridges and expanding the road network in the area, a minister said Monday.
The project, estimated to cost around Rs1.86 billion, has been taken up under a central government initiative through the surface transport and highways ministry, said state Public Works Department Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
"Under its Road Requirement Plan, road networks are being constructed in such (Maoist-affected) areas to boost development and bring the fruits of progress to the people living there," he said.
Accordingly, bridges over three major rivers in the region -- Godavari, Pranita and Indravati -- have been taken up under the RRP which will connect Maharashtra with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states.
The development of road networks and river bridges would help arrest the Maoist activities to some extent and also raise the standards of the tribals living in Gadchiroli and surrounding regions which are thickly forested, he said.
Bhujbal also said that in order to ensure time-bound construction of these projects and facilitate quick movement of men and material, the state PWD has decided to set up a separate regional office in Gadchiroli.
