Modi unveils Rs 50,800-crore 'Setu Bharatam' project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled Rs 50,800 crore “Setu Bharatam” project aimed at overhauling 1,500 bridges of British-era to make all national highways and railway level-crossing accident-free by 2019.

Under the scheme, 208 new road over bridges and road under bridges are envisaged for construction, while 1500 bridges will be widened, rehabilitated or replaced.

“Veins give strength to our body. Similarly, infrastructure will give speed and strength to the development of India. There will be progress if we focus on building road and railway network, optical fibre network, water, grid and electricity connectivity along with electricity supply. Our government is working in that direction,” Modi said while launching the “Setu Bharatam” project.

He said developing rural roads is a priority for the government and it has got huge budgetary support this year.