Damaged roads in flood-hit Uttarakhand would be fully restored by October this year for which Rs 1,000 crore had been sanctioned from the Prime Minister's relief fund, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes said today.
Stating that restoration of roads in Uttarakhand would be taken up on a war footing, he termed reports in a section of media that differences had cropped up between his ministry and the Border Road Organisation (BRO) over road restoration task in Uttarakhand, as baseless.
"I am not aware of this," was his reply when reporters at a meet-the-press here drew his attention to reports that a "cold war" is on between his ministry and the BRO.
Erosion of highways due to heavy rains was a serious problem in some regions of the country. Construction of reinforced concrete roads (RCRs) in vulnerable regions was under consideration to tackle this problem, he said.
Acquisition of required land and getting forest and environmental clearances were two major factors in starting highway projects, Fernandes said.
Land acquisition was the most important problem in Kerala, Fernandes, who is in the state to review the progress of highway development, added.
