Chandigarh, Aug 24 - The World Bank has approved the Rs.1,500-crore Punjab State Road Sector Project (PSRSP), under which 1,100 km of roads would be improved, state Public Works Department Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said here Monday.

'Under this project, about 1,100 km of roads would be improved. The project has been divided into two phases. The phase one that comprised civil works on nearly 700 km of roads is already underway,' said Dhindsa.

This is the largest ever road sector project being implemented in the state, the minister said.

He added that the total expenditure on the project for 2008-09 is Rs.288.8 crore.

'The project is expected to be completed by June 2012,' he added.

'On the resettlement and rehabilitation side, more than 95 percent of the land (46.82 acres out of the total 49.6 acres) under this project has been acquired through private negotiations,' Dhindsa said.