Kota/Jaipur: Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari Wednesday announced highway projects worth over Rs 16,551 crore for the Kota region, including approval for the Mukundara Bypass, a greenfield link connecting Kota to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and the proposed Atal Express Highway between Kota and Etawah.Addressing a public meeting at Mandana after inspecting the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the 4.9km Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve tunnel, Gadkari said 75%-80% of the Rs 1.10 lakh crore expressway project was complete and promised to finish the remaining work within two years.“The expressway still needs improvement. I give you my word that within two years the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be fully completed, enabling people to travel by car from Delhi to Nariman Point and Jawaharlal Nehru Port within about 12 hours. We will deliver what we say,” he said.Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, MP from Kota-Bundi, also addressed the gathering. Assuring Rajasthan of generous NH funding, Gadkari said there was no shortage of money. Using the metaphor of ‘Draupadi’s plate’, he remarked, “You will get tired of asking, but I will never get tired of giving,” adding that the state could seek projects worth Rs 50,000 crore, Rs 1 lakh crore or even Rs 2 lakh crore.The minister announced a 10km four-lane Mukundara Bypass on NH-52 between Kota and Jhalawar for Rs 551 crore, with construction set to begin within three months. He also approved a 21km, Rs 1,000 crore highway via Manpura linking Kota directly to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.Gadkari said the Centre was preparing the DPR for the proposed Rs 15,000 crore Atal Express Highway from Kota to Etawah along the Chambal River. He added that the DPR for connecting Bhawani Mandi to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was already underway.Earlier, Gadkari inspected a 90km stretch of the expressway from Bundi to Kota and also carried out a surprise review in Alwar, directing officials to curb speeding, eliminate black spots and strengthen road safety measures.
