Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has disclosed the approval of seven crucial bridge projects in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
Relevance:
GS III: Infrastructure
Dimensions of the Article:
- Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)
- Setu Bandhan Scheme
Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)
- The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund, previously known as the Central Road Fund, was established in 2000 under the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
- This fund is primarily funded through a cess imposed in conjunction with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
- Administrative control of the CRIF falls under the Ministry of Finance. It was previously administered by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Central Road Fund Act (Amendment), 2018:
- The 2018 amendment to the Central Road Fund Act resulted in its renaming as the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
- It expanded the utilization of the proceeds from the road cess under CRIF to finance a broader range of infrastructure projects. These include waterways, a portion of railway infrastructure, and social infrastructure like educational institutions and medical colleges.
Setu Bandhan Scheme:
- The “Setu Bandhan Scheme” is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
- It is designed to facilitate the construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), and Bridges on State Roads.
- The program’s main objective is to enhance road safety by replacing existing level crossings with bridges, ultimately reducing accidents at these locations.
