Arunachal sought Centre's intervention to complete road projects

Owing to a deplorable road condition of the state, Arunachal Pradesh has sought intervention of the Centre for early completion of the Potin-Pangin stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) and various other ongoing road projects in the state.

Arunachal Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday evening called on Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and apprised him of the deteriorating condition of the Potin-Pangin portion of the highway. Mein informed that a 407 km of Potin-Pangin stretch of TAH need for its early completion.

Narrating the plights of the road, Mein informed that the said portion of the road is remain in a deteriorating condition causing hardships to the people due to which there is public outcry.

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The Trans-Arunachal Highway which covers 1,559 km and extends from Tawang in western part to Kanubari in the east is one of the important roads of the state as it serves as a lifeline for the people of five districts, namely Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, West Siang and Siang.

While discussing the terminated projects of SARDP-NE (Special Accelerated Rural Development Project for North East) namely Lalpul-Manmao-Changlang road, Mein informed the Union minister that in a meeting earlier on July 12, it was decided to allow one-month time to the original contractor for mobilizing the work and if the contractor fails to comply the Ministry has agreed to re-tender the balance work.

Mein also raised the issue of Longding-Tissa-Khonsa road to which the ministry has agreed to re-tender the balance work after placing the proposal before the next high powered committee (HPC).

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With regard to double laning of Khonsa-Hukanjuri road along NH-315A (35 Km), the ministry informed that the land assessment estimate of Hukanjuri- Khonsa is being considered for sanction provided the state government agrees to 2.5 per cent administrative charges as requested by the ministry.

(With inputs from agencies)