Amrit Sarovar Mission To Boost Railways And Highways Infrastructure Projects

The Amrit Sarovar Mission is expected to expedite the implementation of railways and highways projects across the country as the union government has asked the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to use the soil/silt excavated from ponds/tanks in all districts across the country under the mission for their infrastructure projects.

With a view to conserve water for the future, the Prime Minister had launched the Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24 April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

In total, it would lead to creation of 50,000 water bodies of a size of about an acre or more with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meters.

As the rejuvenation of water bodies would involve excavation of several thousands of tonnes of earth in the form of soil or silt, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has asked the Ministry of Railways and the NHAI to map its infrastructure projects with the Amrit Sarovar sites in all states and Union Territories.

Rail Nodal officers

Many railway projects are held up due to the delay in getting the required quantity of burrow earth from the local authorities. Though the issue has been repeatedly flagged at the appropriate level, the timely availability of earth remains a challenge.

Taking note of this, General Managers of all Zonal Railways were told to nominate the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) as the nodal officer who would identify the nearest Amrit Sarovar sites to ongoing railway projects, study the suitability of the desilted soil and silt and submit a feasibility report at the earliest.

Road projects

The paucity of soil has been a consistent problem for a number of NHAI projects. Procurement of soil is key to road building and its non-availability is posing a serious problem for builders in the state, said the Ministry official.

In December 2021, NHAI had announced that it was foreclosing at least four major highway projects in Tamil Nadu as the contractors were unable to procure soil for earthwork and have been waiting for months to get statutory clearances.

According to official sources, the Amrit Sarovar mission will cater to the requirements of projects being implemented by the NHAI.

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