Union minister of road transport and highway Nitin Gadkari will launch road projects covering 277 kms in Jharkhand on April 3 and also lay foundation stones for another 293km network.

A formal communiqué in this regard was sent by Gadkari’s office to his cabinet colleague Arjun Munda, union ministry of tribal affairs, on Saturday seeking his participation for the ceremony which is scheduled to take place at 11am via online. Munda’s office has released the launch date and other details to local media in the evening stating that the projects that are set for inauguration will be dedicated to the nation.

As per the details, the road projects that are set for inauguration are worth Rs 2536.05 crore, while those getting readied for laying the foundation stones are estimated to cost about Rs 859 crore.

The roads that are ready for inauguration include Ghagra-Gumla road on NH 143A (27km; 27.37 cr), Mahulia-Bahragora highway along Jharkhand-Bengal border (71 km; Rs 815 cr), four lane from Kutchery chow in Ranchi via Piska More-Bijupara section (34km; 352.73 cr), Barhi to Hazaribagh four lane (41.28km; Rs 700.68 cr), four lane of Piska More-Palma on NH23 (22.4km; Rs 280.32 cr), Hatgamariah-Jaintgarh on NH75 (27.9km; Rs 27.56 cr) and two lane on NH-114 A (32km; Rs 102.39 cr).

On the other hand, foundation stones for as many as 16 projects worth 859.33 crore encompassing 293 km encompassing will be put on the occasion, some of which includes strengthening of a 36km patch on Koleibera-Simdega NH 23, construction of a bridge over NH 23, construction of road over bridge (ROB) at Chandwa in Latehar at NH-99 among others.

An official at the regional office of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Ranchi confirmed the programmes stating that they are readying for the launch. “Final touches are being given on few roads that are set for inauguration,” said an official, not willing to be quoted.