'1000 wooden bridges to be RCC ones'

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 12: State PWD Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya has said that his department has taken up the task of converting 1,000 wooden bridges to RCC ones and that the DPRs of 200 of them are under preparation. He has further said that construction works of 320 other such bridges will start during this fiscal. In a statement issued to the press on Sunday, Shuklabaidya said: “Though the amount earmarked for the bridges was Rs 1,400 crore, we could spend only Rs 400 crore due to the unfavourable weather condition this monsoon. However, I keep my hope alive to sanction the remaining Rs 1,000 crore in the remaining four months of this fiscal.” According to Shuklabaidya, rural roads measuring 8000 km have also been taken in the State under PMGSY. On stone ship problem in the State, the minister said: “Talks are on with Bhutan to supply us stone chips. They’ve agreed. Meghalaya has also opened four stone quarries.”