Lucknow, Apr 5 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned Rs.1,700 crore for laying new roads and for the maintenance and repair of existing roads in the current financial year, said an official Friday.

A decision clearing all such proposals was taken at a meeting of the state road fund management committee Thursday, the official told IANS.

The meeting, while delving into the proposals received from all districts on a case-to-case basis, sanctioned Rs.500 crore for laying new roads and Rs.900 for maintaining existing roads and state highways. The rest of the money will be spent on completion of projects pending from last year, the official said.

Minister of Public Works Department Shivpal Singh Yadav told officials to meet timelines with regard to laying new roads, and also underlined the need for timely repair and maintenance of roads, he said.

The budget under the roads head this year is 13 percent higher than last year.