Pul pleads Centre for retention of important roads with BRO

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, April 8: Aruchal Pradesh has requested the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for retention of three strategic roads with Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which have been handed over to tiol Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The strategic roads including Joram-Koloriang (158 km), Anini-Meka (235 km) and Demwe-Hawai (165 km) were earlier constructed and maintained by the BRO. Chief Minister Kalikho Pul who is currently camping in the tiol Capital since April 5 last during a meeting with MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari yesterday made this plea, an official communiqué informed here today.

Underlying the importance of these strategic roads, the chief minister said it serve as defence roads.

“In the event of tural calamities or any law and order issues, BRO with its adequate manpower, machineries and dedicated line of communication is better equipped to handle the situation,” Pul pointed out during the meeting. Gadkari while assuring to consider the request of the chief minister appealed the state government to monitor the works of the BRO and to ensure that local people and local contractors are also economically benefitted from the work, the communiqué said.

On proposed widening of the existing 2-lane to 4-lane of the Itagar-Banderdewa section of NH-415, Pul requested to keep necessary budget provision in the current fincial year.

To ease traffic between Itagar and harlagun, the chief minister mentioned that the proposal includes a flyover at harlagun.

He also requested the minister for maintence of the NH-415 since during monsoon it gets worn down and in several places due to landslides in Karsingsa area, the entire roads are washed away.

Pleading for funds Pul said that the road is the only lifeline of the capital city to which Gadkari agreed to help and also for widening of highway to 4-lane road.

The chief minister further requested for an East-West Industrial Corridor Highway (431 km), which would traverse along the border fringe of Assam-Aruchal boundary.

For that the government is taking all measures to ensure land availability, Pul informed.

He said the highway would eble people from Aruchal to avoid travelling to Assam to travel in one’s own state. Every time during blockade or social tension in the neighbouring state, travellers from Aruchal have to face hardship, he added.

The chief minister also requested the minister for re-posting of Regiol Officer of the ministry back at Aruchal saying that the shifting of RO office to Assam defeats the very purpose of close monitoring of projects under the ambitious PM package.

Stating that the funds allocation under Central Road Funds (CRF) are guided by accrual and bank of sanction, Pul said the existing criteria did not cater huge funding required for several projects.

He requested for increase in allocation of funds under CRF as special case for Aruchal since it has large geographical area, the communiqué added.