The state government’s road and building (R&B) department plans to approach the newly-elected Union government seeking an extension of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway up to Mumbai.
With the new government taking shape at the Centre, various departments of the state government here have started revisiting old files that are lying pending with the Union government. Several departments have also readied their lists of pending issues.
A presentation was recently made regarding the same in cabinet meeting recently.
Among the various departments, the state government’s road and building (R&B) department plans to approach the newly-elected Union government seeking an extension of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway up to Mumbai, given the overcrowding at the national highway.
According to state’s roads and building department, though the state has already frozen required land in 300 meters width along the proposed alignment of the expressway, matters are yet to pick up expected speed at Delhi end.
The R&B proposes to inform the Union ministry of shipping, road transport and highways that survey and land acquisition work has to be taken up immediately with the growing traffic problems at the national highway. The National Highway Authority of India has already appointed a consultant for preparing a detailed project report. In addition, the state R&B department would also request the central authority to upgrade 41 state highways in to national highways. The costal highway of length over 1,000 km is to be converted into national highway as well.
Not surprisingly, after the R&B department, state energy and petrochemical department and industries department have longest lists. Among the state’s energy and petrochemical department list of queries to the Union ministry of petroleum and gas, allocation of blocks for exploration of oil and gas to GSPC in Saurashtra and Kutch region; deduction in allocation of power to Gujarat from unallocated quota; cost of gas to be linked to distance of delivery, figure prominently. In addition, the state has long been seeking administrative approval of Gujarat Motor Vehicles (Use of Fuel) Regulation Bill 2005.
The state will also seek faster environment clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forest, especially in case of special economic zones, where the projects are to be executed in time-bound duration. It has also been seeking shifting of headquarter of salt commissioner office from Jaipur to Gandhinagar since a long time, given the fact that the state is the largest producer of salt in India.
The other main issue to feature prominently in the list of issues was the release of Indian fishermen and their boats from the custody of Pakistani authorities. According to information available so far, 411 Gujarati fishermen and their 369 boats were in custody of Pakistan Marine Security Agency. The fisheries department also wants Centre to provide insurance or loan for replacement of the seized boats.
Establishing an Indian Institute of Science Education in the state is another issue on the list of agendas for the education department, which it plans to take up with the Union human resource development ministry. The proposal was earlier denied to Gujarat on the basis that the state falls in western region and Pune already has one IISER serving the region. Collaboration with foreign varsities is also a matter on which the education department will seek for more clarity.
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