V.C.KhanduriThe Union urban development and transport minister spoke to Editor Prabhu Chawla on the state of the roads in India.Q. What is your annual target for road construction? A.We are to make 11 km of four-lane roads every day till 2007.Q. But the roads seem to disintegrate at the same rate. A.The ones we are constructing will last at least 10 years.Q. There is a charge that you are discriminating among states. A.That's not true. It all depends on how easily we acquire land. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are prime examples.Q. But roads in Madhya Pradesh are the worst. Who is responsible for this? The Centre or the state Government? A.The state Government. The Public Works Department, which functions under the state Government, is totally corrupt.Q. You have not met the NSDP target. Now it can be completed only in 2004. Who is responsible? A. We did not get land in Tamil Nadu (87 per cent), Maharashtra (42 per cent) and other states in proper time. We cannot make roads in air. In Bihar, there are law and order problems.Q. You say you don't bow to political pressure. But you changed the Master Plan of Delhi. A.It is being changed only to help Delhiites. After 2021, no changes will be allowed.Q. Have you done this to appease the vote bank? A.If our work is useful for the people, I do not mind getting votes for it.Q. Do you agree that the Government has failed to remove squatters? A.Let us be practical. No government can remove them. From a humanitarian angle too, it is impossible.Q. The DDA has failed to protect its land. Why don't you give it to private entrepreneurs? A.I agree. I have already issued guidelines on this. The Government is responsible for the delay.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Aug 25, 2003--- ENDS ---
