Government approves 1,412-km trans-Arunachal Pradesh highway

Saturday, 10 January 2009, 00:02 IST
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New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh is all set to become more accessible with the government granting 125 billion for constructing a 1,412 km trans-state highway and another 847 km of roads, a move that will also benefit several hydro-power projects in the state. "The proposal would benefit all the 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sibsagar and Tinsukhia districts of Assam and is aimed at providing efficient road connectivity to remote and backward areas and the areas of deficient roads," Home Minister P. Chidambaram said. He was briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The roads covered in the proposal also have strategic importance by way of providing better road communication to forward areas of Anini and Anjaw districts (in Arunachal Pradesh)," Chidambaram added. "The proposal will also facilitate and benefit several hydro-power projects across Arunachal Pradesh," the minister pointed out. The trans-Arunachal Pradesh highway will link 11 district headquarters in the state, while the additional 847 km of roads will connect five more district headquarters. This apart, a 60 km long missing link between National Highway 52 near Roing and National Highway 37 near Dhola, including a major bridge over the Lohit river between Dholia and Sadia in Assam will also be constructed. "The cabinet also approved the creation of a Project Management Unit (PMU) in Guwahati for the better and efficient implementation of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE) and other road programmes in the region," Chidambaram said.
Source: IANS