CCEA approves 4/6 laning of NH-95 in Punjab.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the development of 4/6 laning of the Kharar-Ludhiana section of NH-95 (new NH-05) in Punjab at an estimated cost of ₹2,069 crore.

The estimated cost includes the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 76 km. An official statement said that the work will be done under National Highways Development Project Phase V in a Hybrid Annuity Mode.

“The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Kharar and Ludhiana section. The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State. It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities,” an official statement said.

The Cabinet also took a decision to approve signing of a 15-year contract by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the International Seabed Authority for undertaking exploration and other developmental activities related to Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted area of 10,000 sq km.

“It will be done in parts of Central and South – West Indian Ridges (SWIR), located in the Indian Ocean. By signing the 15-year contract, India’s exclusive rights for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted area will be formalised. Further, it will enhance India’s presence in the Indian Ocean where other players like China, Korea and Germany are active,” an official statement said.

Deep seabed Poly-Metallic Sulphides containing iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum in variable constitutions are precipitates of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from deep interior of the oceanic crust discharged through mineralized chimneys. Such minerals in the ocean ridges have attracted worldwide attention for their long-term commercial as well as strategic values, the statement said.

Further, the Cabinet also gave its approval for India’s membership in the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program consortium by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for geosciences.

“By signing the MoU on the membership for a period of five years with ICDP, India would enable engaging internationally renowned experts with profound expertise in different aspects of scientific drilling in order to accomplish deep drilling and associated investigations in Koyna region,” an official statement said.

In a separate decision, the Cabinet also gave an ex-post facto approval for the Agreement on Labour Co-Operation between India and Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed in Riyadh on April 2-3, 2016 during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia. The agreement benefits Indian workers especially in the unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories who are working in Saudi Arabia.

Further, the Cabinet also gave its approval for enhancement of the retirement age of non-teaching and public health specialists of Central Health Service from 62 to 65 years and doctors of general duty medical officers sub-cadre of Central Health Service to 65 years.

The Cabinet also approved the signing of an Air Services Agreement between India and Taipei Association. Currently, there is no formal agreement and air services between India and Taiwan are governed by the Air India Charters Ltd and Taipei Airlines Association.

Finally, the Cabinet was also apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Space/Indian Space Research Organisation and the Canadian Space Agency on cooperation in the field of outer space.

HBL