Free travel for mothers, widows of Kargil martyrs on ST buses -- CM

Free travel for mothers, widows of Kargil martyrs on ST buses -- CM
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

AURANGABAD, FEB 1: Mothers and widows of Kargil martyrs in Maharashtra would be allowed free travel upto a distance of 2500 km in state transport buses in the state, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said today.

He was speaking after performing bhoomi pujan of the `Military boys hostel' here, being set up through the `Lokmat Kargil Martyrs Relief Fund'. Deputy CM Chagan Bhujbal, Guardian Minister of Aurangabad district Dr Padmasinh Patil and Minister of State for Energy and Tourism Rajendra Darda also spoke.

Deshmukh later inaugurated the new annexe building of the Aurangabad Divisional Commissionerate here, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.36 crore. The CM inaugurated a divisional control room under the Maharashtra emergency earthquake rehabilitation programme.

He also inaugurated a software technology park at Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation area in Chikalthana.

The CM also said that the proposed Mumbai-Aurangabad-Nagpur highway would help speed up the development process in Marathwadaregion.

Speaking after performing the bhoomi pujan of the 702 kmlong highway at Tisgaon near here yesterday, he said work on the highway would be carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation using latest technology and within a stipulated time. The highway, which traverses a distance of 140 km in Marathwada on Vaijapur-Aurangabad-Jalna stretch, is being built at a cost of Rs 700 crore.

Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal said the highway would link various parts of the state and give an impetus to development of Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.

MSRDC should also undertake road construction work in rural areas of Maharashtra, Bhujbal said. Minister for Irrigation, Energy and Guardian Minister of Aurangabad district, Dr Padmasinh Patil said travelling time between Aurangabad-Mumbai would be reduced considerably after the highway is complete.

Minister of State for Energy and Tourism Rajendra Darda said the highway would help bring more tourists to the region.