Kota, Apr 4 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 256 crore high-level bridge over the Chambal River in Itawa block here, strengthening connectivity between Kota and Bundi districts.
The bridge will link Dhipari Chambal in Kota with Chanada Khurd in Bundi.
Alongside the bridge project, development works worth Rs 281 crore were also inaugurated, including roads, drinking water facilities, community infrastructure, and education-related projects.
Addressing the gathering, Birla said the project had been pending for years due to forest department objections, which have now been resolved.
He noted that several bridges are being constructed within a 30-km radius in the Chambal region, a move expected to bring a transformative change in connectivity.
He added that the proposed Jharel bridge would improve access to Sawai Madhopur, while another high-level bridge over the Parvati River will connect Shehnawada and Panwada in Madhya Pradesh.
Birla said the upcoming Dhipari bridge will provide easier access to the expressway network, reducing travel time to Delhi to around four hours and to Ujjain’s Mahakal temple to nearly three-and-a-half hours.
He also informed that a survey for a proposed rail line between Sheopur and Digod has been completed, paving the way for future rail connectivity in the region.
He further highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure that Chambal River water reaches the last mile. Under the Naunera Dam project, piped drinking water is planned to be supplied to every household, which is expected to particularly benefit women.
Rajasthan Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Kirodi Lal Meena described the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway as a historic development for Hadoti and eastern Rajasthan.
He said that bringing Chambal water to regions like Alwar, once considered unlikely, is now becoming a reality.
Referring to the Ram Jal Setu (PKC-ERCP) project, he said it will supply water to 21 districts of Rajasthan with an estimated investment of Rs 78,000 crore. The project is expected to significantly improve irrigation, making agricultural fields more productive.
The minister reiterated that compensating flood-affected farmers and economically weaker sections remains a priority, warning that negligence will not be tolerated.
He also pointed to strict action against fake fertilisers, stating that 127 licenses have been cancelled so far, with stricter legal provisions expected soon.
He cautioned that any irregularities in crop insurance schemes would invite strict action.
BJP district president Prem Gochar said development works worth Rs 350 crore have been delivered to the region, adding that such large-scale initiatives were unprecedented since Independence. PTI COR APL APL
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