Introduction
The President of India in his address to the Parliament on October 29, 1999 mentioned that a Programme for rural connectivity through construction of all-weather roads to connect all villages will soon be started and 50% of the diesel cess will be marked for this programme.
The Prime Minister in his various addresses has also emphasized the priority of rural development and promotion of agriculture.
In pursuance of this nationally significant cause of 100% rural road connectivity by all-weather roads to set the villages free from the handicap of isolation and deprivation of accessibility, the Government of India has constituted the National Rural Road Development Committee (NRDC) vide their notification ref. Rural Roads File No. P-17017/2/99-RR dated January 06,2000 under the chairmanship of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council (Annexure I).
Terms of Reference of the Committee
- Identification of unconnected villages in India.
- Deciding the road length for the total rural road connectivity
- Specification of the roads according to the soil conditions
- Volume of funds needed for the project and contribution from State and Central Governments
- Funds from foreign and other sources
- Possibility of raising the funds through bonds
- Suggestion of Implementing Agency / Agencies
- Structure of Corporation
- Suggestion to implement the project in a time bound manner, its modalities, process of tendering etc.
