The Union Cabinet, in its meeting on Tuesday, took several important decisions. Key among these are the construction of a new airport in Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan, and a six-lane access-controlled ring road in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Union Cabinet approved projects totaling ₹9,814 crore.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet meeting on Tuesday saw several important and significant decisions that will directly impact the country's development and infrastructure. The biggest announcement was the construction of a new airport in Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan, at a cost of ₹1,507 crore. This airport will not only enhance connectivity in the region but will also prove to be important for tourism and trade. In addition, the Union Cabinet also gave the green light to the construction of a six-lane access-controlled ring road in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which will cost ₹8,307 crore.
This project will improve the traffic system of both cities and strengthen logistics facilities. Overall, the Union Cabinet approved projects totaling ₹9,814 crore on Tuesday, which is considered an important step in the country's development and infrastructure expansion.
New Airport in Kota-Bundi
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that a new greenfield airport will be built in Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan, at an estimated cost of ₹1,507 crore. This project will be funded from the internal financial resources of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
- 1,089 acres of land for the airport will be provided free of cost by the Government of Rajasthan.
- The new airport will have the capacity to handle 2 million passengers per year.
- The project is targeted to be completed within 24 months.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said that this airport will improve regional connectivity and strengthen the local economy. He also stated that in the last 11 years, the number of airports in the country has increased from 74 to 162, and the number of air passengers has increased from 16.8 crore to 41.2 crore.
Six-Lane Ring Road in Odisha
The Union Cabinet also approved the construction of a six-lane access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road for Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khordha in Odisha. This project will be based on the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and has a total capital cost of ₹8,307.74 crore.
- Reduce excessive congestion on existing national highways.
- Remove heavy commercial traffic from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Khordha cities.
- Increase the efficiency of freight transport and reduce logistics costs.
- Promote regional socio-economic development.
This project will be approximately 110 kilometers long and will be developed as a greenfield six-lane access-controlled highway. It will be connected to NH-55, NH-57, NH-655, and SH-65, which will improve connectivity to major economic, social, and logistics nodes in Odisha.
National Importance of the Projects
Both these projects approved by the Union Cabinet are not only beneficial for the states but will also make a significant contribution to the expansion of the country's infrastructure and economic development. Kota-Bundi Airport: It will strengthen air connectivity in western India, help in creating employment, and boost local tourism and trade.
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Ring Road: It will facilitate the movement of goods and passenger traffic in eastern India, saving both time and cost by removing traffic from major cities. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that these projects will bring a new revolution in the infrastructure sector in India. It will not only solve traffic problems but also create new opportunities for employment and investment.
