Taking a cue from the Union transport ministry, the state government in Rajasthan has also decided to double up 17 states roads into airfields. These facilities would come up at places in the state where there is no airport in the vicinity of 300 km, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways said, adding that the road stretch would be closed for traffic at the time of landing and take-off of aero-planes. Elsewhere in the country, projects for constructing 6,320 km of road have been awarded under the first phase of the Bharatmala project at an investment of ₹1.44 lakh crore. Under the first phase of the Bharatmala, a total of 34,800 km of road, including 10,000 km of residual National Highway Development Project have been approved for development. The first phase of Bharatmala is to be implemented during the period of 2017-18 to 2021-22, the minister claimed.
