In Gujarat, Bal Krishna Shukla, the BJP MP elected from Vadodara parliamentary constituency, criticised the Centre for allegedly delaying approval of a Rs 1,065-crore road upgradation project. The pre-empowered committee of the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) cleared a Rs 1,064-crore road upgradation project of 921 roads covering a total distance of 2,834 km across Gujarat and the committee met in Delhi last week, Shukla said.    

He said despite his requests and the State government's requisition the Centre has not yet approved the road upgradation project. The PMGSY scheme was launched in 2000 and it took more than 12 years to approve upgrdation of 2,834 km of roads in Gujarat, he said. Many villages including those inhabited by tribals were deprived road connectivity due to fixing of certain criteria by the Centre, under which requirement of minimum population in tribal and non-tribal villages had to be met, he said.