Govt gives infrastructure major push

Seeking to give a push to the infrastructure sector, government today approved private participation to improve railways connectivity, modernisation of 1.55 lakh post offices and developing of additional facilities at Kandla port to enhance capacity for import of crude.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also approved additional funds for the development of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata.

The government also relaxed norms to connect as many as 2687 unconnected habitations in tribal areas at a cost of Rs 5929 crore under its ambitious rural roads scheme.

All 1.55 lakh post offices across the country will be modernised at a cost of Rs 4,909 crore over the next two years, as per the proposal of the Department of Posts approved by the CCEA.

This will enable the Department to provide facilities similar to core banking system, efficient delivery of services, disbursal of government subsidies, seamless access of its services across any branch by citizens.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved the policy framework for private participation in rail connectivity and capacity augmentation projects.

The decision is expected to provide much-needed impetus to building of critical missing links in railway network and evacuation from ports, mines, big industrial units and plants.

The CCI also approved development of Single Point Mooring (SPM) and allied facilities for the import of crude oil at Kandla Port in Gujarat.

Once completed, the additional facilities, to be developed at a cost of Rs 622 crore, are expected to enhance the crude import capacity of the port by 12 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 104 MTPA.

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